Though the tradition was not one that followed them from Hyrule, Link still felt the need to participate while the two of them were on the island-- it was, after all, a way to show someone that you cared for them.. and actions were something Link long sought for when his words failed him. Without much of a sound at all, the hero nervously neared Zelda's side; a strange emotion for him to feel in her presence these days, however.. he wanted to make sure the gift he'd gotten for her was right. Something she would enjoy to the fullest.. even if it was not the most extravagant thing in the world.
"The pixies in the Mistwood made this," gently, Link would hand Zelda a very familiar flower-- a single silent princess. It was made entirely from ice, though one would find a strange sense of comfort from holding it, instead of the sharp sting of cold. It sparkled magnificently in the light; the magic from the fairies woven into its very being.. and though it looked vastly different from the ones that grew throughout the hills of their home, the shape of the petals and its center proved it to be exactly what Link had hoped; while neatly wrapped around its stem was a satin blue ribbon. "The ice.. will never melt. So, in a way, this flower will also never wilt."
A piece of home for her to carry.. no matter where she may have ended up. That would stay by her side for eternity.
".. I hope.. this is alright." Though his cheeks felt warm, though his heart thundered loudly in his chest, Link refused to tear his gaze away from Zelda's for even a moment; a gentle determination shining brilliantly in the blues of his eyes. "Merry Christmas, princess."
truth be told, she couldn't wrap her head around Link acting nervous around her. even when he was newly appointed as her personal knight (and she was less than pleasant with him), not once did she detect an ounce hesitation from him. for a moment, the princess wonders if perhaps she had done something wrong or accidentally messed up a custom of this new world. yet before a question could pass her lips, she sees the gift he so carefully hands her, and for a moment, the world falls silent.
"Oh....."
for Zelda, despite her best efforts in getting acclimated, homesickness was a common emotion felt often. did she miss the fighting? no. did she miss the few years of peace, teaching and enjoying a mundane life as a new time of tranquility was slowly being ushered in? yes. as.....advanced as this world was, there were times where Zelda wanted nothing more than to wake up to the sounds of birds singing outside the window of the home she had made together with Link. having him by her side once more helped to ease that longing, but it too could sneak past his defenses.
so to see the silent princess once more, even in this form, was more than enough to take her breath away. fingers carefully wrap around the sculpture, lips parting in awe at the strange warmth that greeted her touch. she was almost afraid to hold it tight, as if it would shatter. " It's beautiful, Link." somethin of a half-chuckle falls from her lips as her other hand rises, fingertips trailing along the shape of the petals. " I didn't think I'd ever see something from home again, so for you to....."
words trail off as a lump forms in her throat, one quickly swallowed back. she can't quite let herself get caught up with emotion just yet. offering a smile, with her free hand, the princess reaches into her bag. Zelda had also prepared something for the knight and this saves her the trouble of looking for him. inside the carefully wrapped box, he would find a hooded cape. sewn by Zelda herself, it's designed much like that from their world, the only difference being that this one was lined inside with faux fur meant to keep him warm in these cold months. on the back, he would find the symbol that had been on his tunic prior, the blue of the cape matching his eyes with perfection as flowers outline the edges.
" It's not as great as what you gave me but I still wanted to give you something. It should help keep you from getting too cold and it even has pockets on the inside! So you don't have to carry so much on your belt." not that they're out exploring like before but she knew he liked to be prepared.
and despite her heart thundering loudly in her chest, the slight flush that met her cheeks, Zelda comes to a decision and steels herself. free hand resting carefully atop his shoulder, she leans in to press a chaste kiss to Link's cheek, lingering for a moment before pulling away quickly. her eyes shine bright, smile impossible from growing any bigger.
" Merry Christmas to you too, Link. And....thank you. For being here with me."
2 notes
·
View notes
rissa, before this year is up i just wanted to say how thankful i am for you and our friendship. you have become someone so important and special to me <3. you have been so wonderful and kind, thank you for that truly!! i hope that this new year brings you so much happiness lovely because you deserve it. i love you !
EVIE ??? cut it out before i literally sob ?!?!??? becoming friends with you this year was definitely a highlight of 2023. i love what you mia and i created with out lil hunger games babes & i appreciate you so much. i can't wait to see what 2024 brings you <3
2 notes
·
View notes
ethel (20) was reported missing by mary-anne cain in early march, 1991. while she had been spending a lot of time with her new boyfriend, logan harvey phelps (23), she still made time to talk with and visit her mother at home and it was irregular for mary-anne to go without hearing from her daughter after more than a day or so. the pair were staying at a hotel for some time, often spotted by other residents as they came and left their room at late hours, often times noticeably inebriated by alcohol and/or illegal substances (heroine, psychedelics, etc), or caught in domestic disputes. the evening prior to ms. cain’s report was when the two set out to rob the first national bank of alabama with ethel in the getaway car and logan with a duffel bag he’d managed to shove roughly $50k into. phelps shot an officer in the shoulder as he made his exit from the bank; this officer would chase phelps down the sidewalk and into an alleyway where his vehicle was located, ethel in the back. she witnessed him get shot twice in the back as he attempted to enter from the passengers side, dying almost instantly. later, the same car was found 10 miles from the cain residence, abandoned, and the money recovered.
ethel was still spotted at the hotel, this time with an unidentified man, with whom she engaged in illicit acts involving drugs. the last time she was seen in person was the evening of march 15th in a winn-dixie parking lot in arlington, texas, said to be kidnapped by an unidentified man — standing at roughly 6’2” with blonde hair and blue eyes — who “knocked her unconscious and shoved her into the back of his black pickup truck.” nothing more was heard about ethel in shady grove until a newspaper in madison, texas was faxed to their police department. the article spoke of a recent raid on a gentleman's club in aldine called "the red velvet swing," already seedy and a health inspector's nightmare, which ran a secret prostitution ring out of its back rooms. and ethel was part of it. pictures of her in compromising positions were found all around the building, advertising her as a "filty, dirty slut who would do anything on her knees -- among other things." her conservative hometown thought it pitiful that someone so virtuous and full of promise could fall into a black hole of putrid fornication with anyone who would show her a good time; they put it together that after her father had died in a fire, ethel had given in to despair, feeling disgusted and betrayed by one once considered to be a town role model -- now a pariah.
5 notes
·
View notes
your aes for the edster . . . MWAH
❤️ !! that — ah! you're so sweet, and i'm sorry i didn't see this when you sent it. it got lost between memes.
also i . . . totally read that as "your ass for the edster"
which is a totally fair statement to make
0 notes
thinking about…ethel’s future in her survival verse. i’ll likely write it out properly when i have the time but some of the major points are:
after her escape, she drags herself to the nearest police station where she reports the incident with isaiah.
she is taken to the hospital where her wounds are tended to and her mother is contacted back home in alabama.
ethel and mary-anne share a long, tearful phone call before mary-anne flies out to reunite with her daughter. ethel tells her mother everything, from her father’s abuse, to logan, to her journey with isaiah. she keeps her religious struggles to herself for the time being for fear of driving away the one person she has left in her life.
upon returning home to shady grove, ethel — the preacher missing no more — is welcomed back with open arms from her community. she suffers from immense ptsd, depression, and drug withdrawal, all while trying to fit herself back into life the way it was before she left. but she’s not that person anymore. she hasn’t been for a long time.
eventually she does step down from preaching with the help of therapy. her mother, while a little disappointed, is understanding and supportive of ethel’s decision.
she speaks out against sa and meets with other survivors, and years down the line writes and publishes a book/memoir.
3 notes
·
View notes