Identity Crisis

[replicatedcourage]

Who: Dark Link and anyone who comes across him
Where: The park
When: January 5th, dusk
Status: Open

It hurts...

Not the park bench to the face, though that had dislocated his nose and given him two black eyes, causing him to look like a raccoon until he discovered Vatheon's version of a fairy's fountain, the coral.

No, he was fine now, physically, and he was safe here, camped out under the trees, even if his sword and shield had gone missing. What hurt was something else.

She knows everything. She knows about Hyrule, and magic, and everything I don't.

He fought to put the breaks on that train of thought, terrified of what lay around the next cognitive bend. But, as trains do, his thoughts rolled irrepressibly onward.

What if she's right? What if I'm not Link?

A long pause as his whole being fought tooth and nail to keep away from the looming question.

...if she's right, then what's the point of me?

Comments

[kingwithnocrown]

There is a slow, lulling sound of footsteps as they near this dark creature. A shadow falls over the dismal looking elfish man and there's a low, humming sound of sympathy.

"It's difficult, isn't it?" The smooth voice is effortlessly empathetic in tone, the man in question looking equally so. Orihara Izaya. He stops directly in front of the man and then slowly crouches down in front of him.

"I saw what happened, you know, with Shizu-chan and Princess Zelda." Of course he had. Ever since Shizuo had arrived in Vatheon, he had been keeping an unusually close eye on Shizuo's every movement. He was waiting for him to leave again but so far Shizuo seemed to be persistent.

But that's not why he was here. This creature was...interesting. As was Zelda's odd opinion of him.

"I understand what it feels like," he said quietly, placing a hand down on the grass to balance himself as he leaned forward. "I know it's difficult to be in the dark about things. I know it's difficult to understand yourself sometimes. It's the great philosophy of life: why are we created? I don't think I have your name. I'm Orihara Izaya," he said, placing a hand against his chest, "And you are...?"

[replicatedcourage]

Who is this man, this Human? Dark Link regards him with a confused expression. Why is he talking to me?

It dawns on him that the man had just mentioned Zelda and Dark Link's eyes narrow dangerously until the realization that he'd merely mentioned her name in passing as to inform him he'd seen what had happened in the park a few days ago. Dark Link shifts a bit uncomfortably. The man's eyes remind him of his master's. Cold, calculating, seeing those before him as lower than himself.

But his words are nice and he doesn't seem threatening. He's the first person not to yell or throw things at Dark Link upon meeting him, in any case.

"I'm-"

He pauses, running it over in his head. Should he give up his identity? Agree with Zelda? But what would happen to him then? Would he disappear? Would he become someone new? Ultimately, it's simply too frightening to fathom.

"I'm Link."

[kingwithnocrown]

Izaya waits patiently for the man's name. He leans in a little bit closer but for once he doesn't seem interested in invading this guy's personal space. His eyes are focused on his face, picking up on every single movement, expression, anything. When the name finally is given, Izaya's face spreads open with a wide smile.

"That's right, you are, aren't you?" he said with a firm assurance. "You don't seem so scary at all," he said, reaching a hand out towards Link but he doesn't quite touch him. No, he pinches a thin lock of hair between his fingers and slides his fingers over it. "And you seem to be real." He drops the hair and then his hand.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said earnestly, and his expression was honest, even if a little dark. His smile by now had faded into a comfortable grin. "I think you seem a lot more pleasant than you are dangerous. Heh. That reminds me of someone that I know," he said, pointing a finger to himself. "Being assumed to be something feels pretty bad, hn? But y'know..."

He stands up then and looks down at Link, holding his hand out, "You don't need to look like that. Not when you have a friend, nn? It's all about careful assortment of your mind and I can help you with that."

I see what you're doing here and it's brilliant <3 best trollzaya. Also eff typos

[replicatedcourage]

Dark Link reaches for the man's hand. Finally someone who can accept him, someone who can understand. Someone who calls himself a friend. He'd never had a friend before, only enemies and his master. And this man, Izaya, is offering to help him. It's simply too good to be true.

Dark Link eats it right up, taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.

"You can help me?"

[not_heavens_adam]

"You don't look so good." Johnny didn't mind stating the obvious and the vampire had decided after watching this boy that there was definitely something up. He was curious. Call him a cat, but he couldn't resist the temptation of attempting to learn more.

Besides, he'd developed a hobby here of attempting to help humans. This kid wasn't human, he could smell that much, but that didn't mean Johnny wasn't interested.

[replicatedcourage]

"So?" Dark Link spat, looking up at the person who'd decided to step into his personal shadow and tell him what he already knew. "Who cares how I look."

[not_heavens_adam]

Johnny smiled to the branches of his tree. "Any particular reason?" He didn't bother being offended. The vampire expected nothing less.

[replicatedcourage]

"It's none of your business!" He hugged his knees from his place on the branch, looking away from the man who persisted in bothering him and very much acting the petulant child.

Though technically he is less than a year old, so it's to be expected.

This human wasn't yelling or attacking him, though, so Dark Link immediately felt sorry he had snapped at him but pride disallowed any showing of it.

[withoutasign]

[Thanks to both Zelda's description of him and the fact that his clothing looks similiar to hers, Signless is able to recognize Dark Link without too much of a problem. The poor child, he looks so lonely and dejected, sitting there by himself.]

[With the air of someone who has no idea that what he's doing could possibly be dangerous, Signless strolls over and sits down next to him.]

Hi.

[replicatedcourage]

[Dark Link eyes him warily, not entirely unaccustomed to creatures with horns, though not entirely certain what to do when one spoke with him either. If this guy is a type of Moblin, he's like none that Dark Link's ever seen.]

...what are you?

[withoutasign]

I'm a troll. Don't worry, though, I have no interest in eating you or anyone else.

[Well, this is going well so far!]

May I ask your name, my friend?

[replicatedcourage]

[He screws up his face, ignoring the question in his confusion. No trolls where he comes from!]

Do trolls normally eat people?

[Wait... friend? Dark Link's expression grows even more incredulous.]

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca recognized Link almost immediately. It was the person, Zelda told him about earlier. From her description, Ruca didn't exactly know what he should except if he ever met him, but right now, no matter how he looked at the actual person, Ruca just couldn't think of Link as of someone who could be dangerous. He looked so lonely and considering all the other things the boy had heard about him, it was enough of a reason for Ruca to approach him.

Ruca knew what it meant to feel all alone, even though his loneliness was his own fault. A silly idea of a rich child, who thought he’s nothing else, but a nuisance to everyone around him. But thanks to one certain girl, Ruca understood that it's not the truth. He was able to understand that there are people out there, who truly care about him.

But the boy also knew very well how is it when you don't understand who actually are you. Even if it sounded silly, it was the truth. As a reincarnation of Asura and someone who always looked down on himself, Ruca wished he could be just like his past life.

I am Asura. That was what he thought for a very long time, before finally realizing he will never be like he was in his past life.

Though, it probably wasn't the same with Link, the small connection he felt with the lost-looking boy before him, made him wish he would be able to help somehow.

Even if it wasn't much...

"A-are you... okay?" his voice was timid and soft, but worry could be heard clearly in it.

[replicatedcourage]

Dark Link's head snapped up at the unfamiliar voice, shoulders bunching with tension as he readied himself to receive an attack, bracing himself for a blow that never came.

After a moment, he looked at the speaker. How he thought an attack could have come from this boy was simply laughable, but also a sad testament to his treatment since he'd arrived here. Dark Link's posture relaxed, falling back into his brooding.

"What do you want?" He sounds sullen and morose.

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca blinked at the other's reaction.

"I-I just..." he looks even more worried than he looked before. "I was wondering if you're alright..."

But he obviously wasn't and Ruca almost immediately regretted what he said.

[replicatedcourage]

Dark Link barked a derisive laugh. "Of course I'm alright! I've lost my sword, Zelda hates me, and I'm not even really sure who I am! I'm doing fantastic!"

His voice nearly hit an anxious shriek on the last word, causing him to pause and clear his throat. He heaved a heavy sigh. "Go away."

[fonmaster]

Ion usually tried to not be out after dark, but Vatheon's park was just so pretty, he couldn't help himself. Besides that, he felt good, better than he'd ever expected to feel again. That was how the evening found him still wandering the park with a silly smile on his face.

He paused when he saw the man brooding quietly underneath the trees. He couldn't put a finger on it, but somehow he was reminded of Luke. The thought made his goofy grin soften as he approached.

"Hello, sir."

[replicatedcourage]

A small voice snapped Dark Link out of his reverie, a fact which he was glad of even if it was jarring. Those thoughts... nothing good could come of them. All of this introspection was making his head hurt, in any case. It was simply easier to believe that he's Link and that's that.

Only that means Zelda is wrong. That just doesn't happen, does it?

Or it does. Because she has to be. Because if she's not, then he doesn't have an identity and might as well not exist at all.

The thought was terrifying.

...oh, wait, someone was talking to him.

"What?" He spit the word, too confused and conflicted to realize the forcefulness with which he expelled the question.

[fonmaster]

Ion looked a little surprised, but he didn't seem particularly offended.

"Nothing in particular, you just looked a little lost," he replied. Brightening, he checked his pockets until he managed to find the bag of candy he had been snacking on earlier. "Are you hungry? I don't think I can finish all of these."

[replicatedcourage]

As soon as the bag is produced, Dark Link's eyes fix on it and follow its slight swing in Ion's hand. It hadn't occurred to him until this moment, but he hadn't had anything to eat since his arrival in this wretched place and as if on cue his stomach made a loud and insistent rumble.

In a quick motion, Dark Link snatched the bag and immediately stuffed a handful in his mouth, not even bothering (or knowing to) unwrap the contents first.

[fonmaster]

"You're a replica," Ion said dumbly. He had no idea that there were replicas on other worlds. The thought made his stomach knot up. This time he grabbed Dark Link's arms, looking sincere.

"It's alright. I'm a replica, too. There was an Ion before me, the original one."

[replicatedcourage]

"A what? I-is that what it's called when you're the same as someone else but not?" Dark Link was equally dumbfounded. Someone like him? As far as he knew, Ganondorf was the only one powerful enough to do that, and even he had to have help from those ugly old Gerudo witches.

"Did my master make you too? Is he on your world?!"

[singsforsouls]

"Are you all right?" The question came from a teenage boy who had paused to study Dark Link, noting the unpleasant expression on his face. Naoya had gotten so used to talking to strangers for information at this point that he thought nothing of stepping forward to ask the question.

[replicatedcourage]

Dark Link was pretty much fed up with people at this point, but this guy didn't look threatening. But neither did that blonde girl and look what happened there.

"What do you want?" He hissed, hunching back defensively.

[singsforsouls]

Naoya held out his hands in front of him in a non-threatening gesture. "You just seemed upset. I wanted to see if you needed any help."