bakerstreet | GROUNDHOG DAY!

GROUNDHOG DAY!

So, it's Groundhog Day. You check in with a rodent to see how much longer winter is going to last, hang out with friends, have a few beers, watch a movie, call it a night.

So, it's Groundhog Day. You check in with a rodent to see how much longer winter is going to last, hang out with friends, have a few beers, watch a movie, call it a night.

So, it's Groundhog Day...

Prompts
1. FIRST LOOP! Oh shit, this is your first time repeating everything. What do you do? Assume you're insane? Wonder if you're psychic? Go for help? Curl up in a corner crying? Your choice.

2. IT'S ALL ROUTINE NOW. Well, you've been around the block a few dozen times now. There are no surprises left. In ten seconds, that guy is going to trip over that cord. See? Called it. Sigh.

3. DO ANYTHING. Holy shit! There are no consequences anymore! You can literally do anything you want, and all the consequences will be erased within 24 hours. What do you do? Random sex? Shopping spree? Borrow a million dollars from the bank?

4. FUCK EVERYONE. Yeah, this is getting old. Living without consequences was fun for a while, but now you're ready to move on. Maybe it'll help you to cause a little mayhem. It's not like they'll remember tomorrow, anyway, is it? And misery does love company...

5. A LITTLE STIR-CRAZY. A bit like a do anything day, except now you're just going insane. Do out-of-character shit, anything to shake it up and relieve the tension.

6. GIVE UP. Maybe the only way out of this loop thing is to kill yourself inventively. Who knows?

7. LEARN SOMETHING FOR THE HELL OF IT. Might as well make use of your time, right? Maybe you should learn to play an instrument or paint a mural. You have all the time in the world to practice, after all.

8. TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS. Instead of screwing everyone over, maybe it's time to use your knowledge to make everyone else's day a little better. Someone should be happy, right?

9. LAST LOOP. Whatever it is you needed to learn, do, or accomplish, this is the one where you finish it. This is the day that counts. Don't screw it up.

10. THE DAY AFTER. Is that... is it tomorrow?! HALLELUJAH! Now time to start dealing with consequences again. Right after you finish dancing on that calender.

11. WILD CARD. Make up your own day or pick one of the other ten suggestions.

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[And this is why we don't fuck with time, folks.]

[help, Lucina, help it's like someone won't stop playing the Song of Time and it isn't me]

[there's a wolf at the young princess' feet, looking up at her in a very 'what now?' manner as his tail twitches behind him. They've gone dungeon crawling, townspeople talking and crashed a ritual by accident (not necessarily in that order) and they still haven't figured out the trick to leaving this Outrealm.

Mildly distressing, considering who they were, but surely not something they're trapped in. Surely.

There's a soft whine as he nudges her hand. Maybe they ought to see if there was some relic hidden somewhere? That's how he got out of things in Hyrule...]

[~~are you sure it's not mun badly whistling through that poor, poor instrument~~]

[She had hoped not to wake up to this sight for what seemed like the hundredth time, but alas. It had probably only been about two weeks or so of the same day repeating itself, but it was enough to begin to work at her nerves by this point...

The wolf's touch is familiar to her by now, hand moving gently across his snout in return, then resting atop his head to scratch between the ears. She still seems a little lost in thought as she responds.]

I suppose if there's anything to gain from being stuck like this is ample time to explore... perhaps this time, we'll find some answers.

Where to this time, old friend?

[so he might have tilted his head forward for a more comfortable scratching location or he might have done it to make it easier on Lucina. No one needed to know! And hey, the princess wasn't the only one starting to feel a little strained in this situation. He's more used to being able to traverse time as he saw necessary than to being thrown around helplessly for so long.

At Lucina's question, Link barks before taking a few steps towards the town they'd visited. Maybe they could find something different this time around. Help that poor lady find her missing child in record time or what have you. We'll find a way out of this, princess!

... But do we go as the Butterfly and her wolf sidekick or just as Lucina and Link? Asking the real questions]

We can certainly give it a try, but not with you looking like that, I'm afraid. [She needn't remind him of the last time he tried to waltz into town like that, right? Even if he could put on a pretty convincing dog act, Link was still a rather intimidating-looking wolf, and though they'd gotten to know these particular townspeople quite well during their stay... the same could not be said of the people, who'd forgotten them time and again. Lucina didn't expect any different this time, either.]

There must be some place we haven't searched there yet. If we catch that other traveler as they're leaving the inn... [She'll just turn those gears quietly in her head while Link does his thing, yeah?]

[his ears prick up when he hears her comment and the only thing he does is lie down before rolling over with his tongue lolling out. Totally harmless, just look at him! ... But he rolls back over (with a sneeze) soon enough and transforms back into his normal self with the usual accompaniment of shadow magic]

[a brief shakedown later....]

We should go if you want to catch that stranger. [he pulls his hood over his head to hide his ears. We're ready to go and if they get there fast enough, they might be able to catch this guy before they disappeared for the day]

[Effectively distracted from her thoughts, she chuckles at the display.]

...Right. If we cut through the alleys, we should be able to cut them off on their way out the shopping district.

[She readies her mask-- it's habit by now-- and tucks her hair back before starting towards the town at a quick pace. The traveler had managed to evade them the first few times they'd tried to follow-- surprisingly quick, that one-- but Lucina wasn't one to be discouraged by a setback like that. Not in this situation...]

[there's only a silent nod before Link follows quietly after her. Even now, he still found himself at a loss at the uncanny resemblance between the princess and the Hero-King who's name she took for herself. But that was reflection that could be saved for another time. Now they had a traveler to corner.

Hopefully they could start a conversation without the solitary person they had yet to speak with running off. A chase, while a nice change of pace, would not be particularly helpful to them. ~~muffled The Supernatural plays in the background~~

But really, a masked person and a hooded person? These two... So stealth. Much secret]

[There was plenty of reason for stealth and secrecy! At least, there usually was, odd time loops notwithstanding. At the very least, Lucina had found that the hood-mask-combo kept anyone with a proper sense of self-preservation from bothering the pair-- useful for days like today when they had a goal in mind and no time for side ~~questing~~ tracking.

After taking the now-familiar shortcut across town, it's possible to spot their target from the shadows, moving at a brisk pace among the market stalls.]

They look as though they've somewhere to be... do we approach them or keep tailing them like this...?

[She doesn't dare take her eyes off the traveler. Granted if they messed this up there would probably be time to try again, but...]

[Link spares a glance over to the princess even as they continue to move through the stalls. After a moment, he smiles]

... Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

[but he quickly slips off into the shadows without any further comment. They've been traveling together for a while now, she should be able to figure out his intentions quickly enough; a straightforward approach was best, but Link was ready to ambush the traveler if they chose to flee. Besides, if they just kept tailing them, then they'd probably just lose track of them.

Granted, it's been a few centuries since he's had to chase down someone but he was still young (at heart)! It'd be fun and a nice little deviation from this repetitive loop they've found themselves in... Though he does fervently hope that they'll manage to catch this man on their first try.

Aren't these tactics best done with three parties? Either way, the traveler seems to have noticed the strange masked man(?) following him (wait, didn't he have a companion earlier?)

> nervously speeds up]

[How this stranger moves so quickly while carrying such a large traveling bag, Lucina can't fathom-- and they seem to be picking up speed. She changes her pace to match the man's, but he continues to outpace, hurrying to the nearest gate out of town. Coupled with the crowded streets, the chase proves more challenging than anticipated.]

Wait... stop!

[A rather weak attempt at catching their attention-- the traveler seems to perk up, but only for a second before scurrying away once more. It wouldn't be long until he reached the gate-- which, incidentally, opened out into dense forest. He could easily lose them in there.

Lucina can't break into a run around all these people, but perhaps Link can still head them off...!]

[Link, on the other hand, had been skirting around alleyways and bypassing the crowded main streets in an attempt to cut the traveller off before the gate. He had to take peeks through openings to gauge where they were going, but considering they'd seen this traveller everyday for the last few weeks. So when he hears Lucina call out, the old hero picks up his pace and starts running in earnest.

The town gate is in sight when Link bursts out from a nearby alleyway to tackle the traveller, knocking him askew and sending the rather large and unwieldy bag tumbling. Not the most graceful thing he's done, but when you're chasing someone is there really any time to consider finesse?

Link has enough foresight to keep a hold of part of the traveller's cloak and he's about to bombard the other with questions when he spots the other man's appearance. And while it's not uncommon for him to forgo words, it's only for extraordinary circumstances that he's rendered speechless. The questions he was originally going to ask are replaced with a few others, including such classics as 'what are you doing here' and 'who did you swindle out of their rupees this time?' Even as he finds himself relinquishing his hold on the other's coat.

But it looks like his hostage is still a little dazed from the impact (who wouldn't when a wolf all but ran them over?) . Lucina would certainly have no trouble catching up now]

[And though the traveler has a moment to panic over the spilled money that's tumbled from his bag, he's quick enough to fire back (with impeccable timing) the same 'what are you doing--' and 'wait, no, I'm the guy who got swindled!' spiel before breaking into a breathless chuckle in his not!twin's face, shaking his head. Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Hero!

Lucina's quick to close the distance, though, so before anyone has time to catch up, she has plenty to-- well.]

Ah-- nicely done! Now we can--

[She stops right in her tracks, eyes wide behind her butterfly mask. There was Link, ears and marks and all, and then there was... a man who looked remarkably like Link, minor differences like colour aside. She gapes for a moment wordlessly, though not as the two in front of her had done...]

What in the world...? Link, what's going on, here?

[the response was immediate; the green Hero turns to look up at Lucina, wide eyed and a little shocked, before turning his attention straight back to his doppelganger. Or, rather, he pins a 'we're going to have a talk about this later' look on his darker coloured counterpart before pushing himself up. He extends a hand to the other out of courtesy then addresses Lucina]

He's an old acquaintance. [a pause] From a long time ago.

[to the stranger, he asks if he's learned or found anything. Swindled or not, laziness or not, Link would very much like to get out of this timeloop and out of the three of them, he has the most experience with this sort of thing. Time travel isn't fun, especially when you don't have a patron Goddess watching over you anymore]

I-- I see.

[A long time ago? But the uncanny-- SERIOUSLY uncanny resemblance, right down to the pointed ears and fluffy, lovely hair (even if it isn't the same lovely golden colour...) ...Wouldn't that mean he's...

Lucina ponders in silence while the two discuss the current situation. Ravio-- as Link would know him-- is quick to protest that 'laziness' jab. It's Link's fault he can feel so relaxed, after all! But it seems he let his guard down one too many times, and his own time-twisting relic had been pilfered by a thief. It had taken him a couple loops to realize he was stuck, but at least he's been around enough times to get a good enough idea of where the culprit's gone. A cave within a canyon... now doesn't that sound nostalgic, Mr. Hero?]

[... Lucina, you used lovely twice in a row, are you all right?]

[As for Link and Ravio's discussion... It's all Link can do to not look at his doppelganger in exasperation. Well, that certainly explained their situation in full. With regards to the time looping anyway. He'll have to explain Ravio to Lucina later.

Perhaps while they go dungeon crawling again?

If Ravio wanted him to get that treasure back, then Link wouldn't mind obliging. Though he wonders what Shiro is doing if he couldn't reclaim that stolen item... Was there any other information he and ~~the Princess~~ his companion needed to know? Things to be aware of, people to look out for, the amount of money they'd need to have by the end to pay Ravio off...]

[NO THERE'S TWICE AS MANY LONG-EARED MEN HERE AS THERE NEED TO BE.]

[Ravio "suggests"-- in the heaviest quotations one could muster-- that it sure would be swell of Link and his rather royal-looking friend to get his things back. No charge, even (well maybe a little charge if they wanted him to help them resupply their gear, generous guy that he is) but whatever's happened, he seems pretty anxious to get going. The culprit in question didn't have much of a stand-out appearance to go off of, but he was pale and squinted and giggled to himself, according to Ravio...]

[I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IT WASN'T MY FAULT EXCEPT IT TOTALLY IS hahaha oops]

[...]
[...]
[...]
[Accept Quest? >Yes >No]

What would you like to do?

[he hasn't been the Hero for a long time. But he's known Lucina long enough to know her answer. The question was asked out of courtesy and to make sure that everyone was on the same page. He wouldn't even mind doing this one his own, if only because the idea of repeating all this again was starting to wear on his phenomenal patience.

Who was he kidding though? He'd practically signed up for this sort of scenario from the moment he'd first agreed to take up arms for the Goddess]

[damn you elves with your hy's and your lo's and your double triforces

Lucina nods her confirmation-- she doesn't need to state the obvious. After all, it seemed like the best course of action, given they'd tried just about everything else.

Ravio on the other hand has plenty of colourful thanks to shower upon them (and promising more once this fiasco was done with, of course, with interest!) and sends them on their way with little more than a map and a slightly pricy resupply "You're charging us to help you? Really?"-- perhaps seeming a little jumpy behind all that chipper chirping, but at present he seems to be chirping for two. "Hope Sheerow's alright..."

It's not until they're down to two people again when Lucina speaks up, faint amusement in her voice.]

...You've quite the interesting acquaintances, Link.

[Link takes some time to look over the map as Ravio helps them resupply before rolling it up and storing it away for future reference. This dungeon's entrance was better hidden than the previous locations they've gone… It's no wonder that they never managed to find it in previous loops.

So he leads the two of them off towards their new destination without ceremony or chatter… A little distracted, it takes a second for Lucina's amusement and comment to sink it]

…!

[he ducks his head and looks away, the tips of his ears faintly red from embarrassment]

Ravio is... [he looks up, a sheepish smile on his face] Well, he's certainly a welcomed face. Then again, we're hardly the most interesting people you'd find in and around Hyrule.

I suppose I owe you an explanation of sorts. For Ravio at least. [he frowns here, because he's trying to think of what his doppelgänger could have possibly lost that caused this mess and who the thief might be… And he's not sure he has an answer for those just yet]

[And for a split second he can catch Lucina admiring the shade his ears are turning before she meets his eyes, listening intently.]

I am rather curious as to what his story is, considering the two of you looked so... well. You know what I mean.

[It couldn't just be coincidence, could it? Link had never mentioned anything about long-lost brothers or the like, but he was a private person to begin with... if he's willing to talk now, though, Lucina won't waste the opportunity to learn more about her travel partner.]

Similar?

[he sighs quietly and takes a second to make sure they're heading in the right direction before continuing]

There were a few worlds connected with Hyrule... Not like these Outrealms, but worlds whose destinies tied intimately with Hyrule's fate. [he's still smiling, but he looks a little melancholy] Ravio's from one such place, a reflection of Hyrule. I suppose you could say that he was my counterpart in Lorule.

[a laugh] He used to charge me an arm and a leg for weapons as well. Some things just don't change with time.

Hyrule and Lorule, hm...

[It sounds almost like a fairy tale, but considering the nature of some of the Outrealms they've visited and Link being... well, Link, it doesn't take too much for her to believe it. A reflection world... it only adds to her list of questions, but one thing at a time, right?]

I suppose habits must be hard to break after so long. I'm not certain I see the 'reflection', just yet, outside of him... er, looking almost exactly like you.

...What's it like, though, having a double? [Really, all she's got to go on is her sister for reference here, and though close, they weren't exactly twins.

The trees have started thinning out by now, revealing a deep gorge beyond the branches. The cave's entrance shouldn't be too far off, but what are those scribbles on the map, there? Something about switches and boomerangs...? It's written rather messily in an old but familiar language-- at least for Link, it ought to be. The princess might not be of much help for this next step...]

[you speak as if the tales of his other exploits haven't already become fairy tales. Sure, the stories of the Hero-King Marth are known to be grounded in history, but considering how long it's been since anyone has spoken of Hyrule? Pah]

... [technically, there was baby Lucina too, but we've enough time shenanigans as it stands]

It's a bit startling when you first run across each other. But you've met Ravio; the only thing he's a threat to is your gold. [quietly;] I wish I could say the same of the others...

[he shakes his head and turns his attention back to the map once they reach the gorge.

... Link's honestly surprised Ravio's handwriting is as awful as it is. But... Switches? Don't tell him this Outrealm had dungeons like Hyrule's!

He looks around, before turning to Lucina]

There should be a switch around here that will open the way. Help me look for it?

[they needed to do this quickly after all]

[There were others? Lucina's about to send more questions his way, but there's more pressing matters at hand. She confirms again with a quick nod, and begins her survey-- it doesn't take long to spy the switch, but it's a bit out of reach to hit with a sword. How curious...]

There-- that crystal sticking out of the wall? I've never seen a mechanism like that, but it looks too unnatural to be there for anything else. Can you hit it from here?

[A rhetorical question, obviously. She knows by now that Link's more than capable. In the meantime... she'd be ready to storm the entrance as soon as it reveals itself. Perhaps it's that miscoloured bit of rock? Or the slightly-suspiciously-shaped bit of brush? Perhaps going in loops for so long's making her a bit irrational. That's probably it, too.]

Lucina | Fire Emblem Awakening | OTA

7 - making fun of your RL ocarina for days

tweep tweeeeeeeeeeep

squiddly squeaks out a violin accompaniment

at least you're more competent at instruments than I

Implying i've had time to practice recently

we're going to get kicked out of every outrealm

nooo leave the narcoleptic alone :'CCCC

WAKE UP WUP WUP WE'RE GOING ON ADVENTURES

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We started this thread in fucking February. Disgraceful

we're trash. fashionable trash

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