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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[It's been a while since that feeling's been brought to light, honestly. It was always there- at least in Ravio's case, having spent so much time following Hilda's directions-- but seeing it in his twin made it painfully clear.

Though his expression darkens similarly at Link's reply, he does his best to smile back when his mirror does-- summoning those against the odds is one of his talents, he figures.]

Well, you sound like you've been thorough, and you're not one to lie. If anyone could do it, it's you.

[A pause, and then, with a confidence different from his usual salespitch tone-- something older, lesser used:]

Just know you've got my support-- it's been a long time since I've been a hero, but I'll have your back in other ways.

[Even if he'd stuck to the shadows, the two of them continued to tread a similar path, right down to winding up in this backwoods Outrealm. They were kind-of-sort-of in this life together. Heck, maybe Link was doing his mission better than Ravio had been-- building a better world in which to live, rather than scouting one that already existed. What would Hilda have said? Probably something along the lines of what are you waiting around for? Do as Hyrule's Hero has done. Maybe he'd been going about things wrong all these years...]

[he wishes he didn't have to be thorough, that this wasn't even a problem to begin with... But it was, and even if he had made sure Grima could never ruin Time again, he knows that another Fell Dragon will rise to power. Such is the way with darkness and the hearts of men.

...

But hearing Ravio voice his support was reassuring. In a way that the sight of an old painting of home - of Hyrule, of Altea - was comforting. His smile softens in gratitude and becomes genuine]

Would you like to come visit? It's a beautiful place. You might like it.

[even if they still needed to explain the basic idea of what happened to Lucina. Or at least enjoy dinner with friends]

[Such is the cycle of things, even now when their own had been more or less put to rest. It seemed like the curtain had closed on everyone but them.

...~~why a painting reference, Link. after everything Yuga put this guy through~~

He raises a brow, grinning back.]

Really? You know, I might have to take you up on that offer. Heck, it'll be a little like old times, eh, buddy? Bunking in the same place together! ...And to be honest, I could use a break from the whole 'traveling' part of the traveling merchant gig.

[Good job, Link, you've invited chaos into your home.]

[~~because photographs don't exist and etchings aren't quite as romantic. Sorry bro~~]

[... That was fast! He let's out a quiet puff of air, but the wry smile on his face gives away his amusement]

Just leave my stuff alone this time and I won't charge you rent.

[he could always threaten to eat him if things got out of hand really. Speaking of home though... The food Ravio had ordered earlier was being placed on the now empty table and Lucina was still nowhere to be found. Link's a little worried (And hopes that he can get changed fast enough to get some soup before it goes cold)]

[And after that somber moment they'd had previously, Ravio's back to laughing merrily at Link's response. He'd be grateful for the offer whether it was free or not, really!

It's about this time Lucina returns, nicely cleaned up compared to the past couple weeks of running about fighting monsters. She's even changed out of her battle gear-- save for Falchion stubbornly on her hip. Were it not for the weapon and her formal air, the princess could pass for a regular girl. ...Maybe.

Ravio mutters teasingly in the old language-- 'looks like someone's made themselves especially pretty for you today, huh?' before nudging his twin, chuckling.

Lucina merely smiles ~~more oblivious than ever~~ as she joins them, bowing her head for a moment once she's near.]

My apologies for taking so much time. The room's all yours, Link!

[Better hurry~ it'd be a shame to miss out on this hot meal!]

[he smiles and moves to greet her when the princess returns, but the elbow and mutter causes him to stop and send a glare over at his counterpart. It would probably have been a great deal more threatening if his ears weren't pink at the tip. But he thanks her all the same before quickly slipping upstairs (he might have accidentally swooned one of the maids preparing the rooms on his way) to quickly get changed.

He probably just washed the webbing out of his hair, changed out of his webbing covered clothes into a spare outfit and called it a day. It's very noticeable when he comes back, sans the hooded cape and his weapon but hair still damp and looking like he didn't bother to comb it at all. (There goes another maid and a gent probably dropped his drink because HANDSOME ENOUGH TO START WARS)

But enough of that! There's soup to be had!! And Link looks like such an excited child at the prospect of such a simple food item too. So much for the Great Hero of Legend]

[Ravio's smile only grows wider at Link's reaction, and he's back to his usual cheerfulness while he entertains Lucina for the brief moment Link is ~~forgetting to turn off his swag~~ absent. He wouldn't divulge any information until Link returned, but at least everyone seems to be in better spirits once the spiderwebs are shaken free and food's on the table!

The combination of the two counterparts makes for quite a lively start to dinner-- apparently eating habits as well as looks carried over. It's almost reminiscent of the old days Lucina had been on the march with her friends and family (and lbr, the only one she'd ever seen get that excited about food was either Stahl or Owain on roast ox night, good grief)

Lucina's not eating with the exact same zeal with her companions, but... hey, at least she's not talking through half of it like a certain rabbit. He's detailing just how he and Sheerow had gotten through here-- magic mirrors and rift doors seemed easy to come by in the Outrealms-- how the Lorulean relic had been pilfered by the laughing man, only to change hands-- talons? with a thief-turned-monster whose spirit was unable to handle the magic of the cap. Again, it seems like tall tales, and Ravio's casual tone suggests he's not telling the whole truth... but it's difficult for the princess to tell after only just meeting him.]

[there was just something about soup. Maybe it was the nice warming sensation that one got when the soup was nice and hot (and well made!) that was reinvigorating. Or maybe it's the all-around versatility of it. ... Maybe they were enjoying it a little too much.

Link's listening to Ravio's story (between bites of food) but not supplying any extra narration of his own. If he had any extra information or knew if Ravio was lying or not, the hero of Hyrule has opted to keep it to himself. He does make a face when the other Salesman is brought up in the story though and that might be enough to prove that his counterpart was the preferable retailer by far. But if Ravio's story sounds like a tall tale, what did Link's own stories sound like?]

But everything should be back to normal, right?

[because the Happy Mask Salesman had his own ability to manipulate time but Link wouldn't want to leave these people stuck in a timeloop if he could help it]

Yeah, absolutely! Or... well, I guess we'll see come morning, but I've got a feeling the worst is past. Speaking of morning, where will you two be headed tomorrow? I'll bet everybody's sick of seeing the same old thing over and over by now, hey?

[And though the people at the table understood Ravio's meaning, it earns a few raised eyebrows from the townsfolk overhearing the conversation. ...Well, maybe the rabbit kid had just had a little too much milk, or something.

Lucina considers the question, chewing and swallowing as she thinks, and then...]

If Link's not opposed to it, of course, I think I would like to check in on those who were having particularly important problems today. I realize our actions over the past few days would have been reset, so ... at the very least, I'd like to follow up on the townsfolk before leaving this place.

[Link seemed content to let Lucina decide their new itinerary now that the timeloop was out of the way. It'd certainly be nice to see something new, more so since these people had been going through the same day for a few weeks now... And it's a little unfortunate that Link could relate to that feeling.

He looks up from his soup when Lucina answers and smiles in reply. Well, it wasn't as if he was in any particular hurry... Yup, that sounds like a plan]

It'd be good to say our farewells before we take our leave.

[The princess smiles right back, looking more calm and contented than she has in quite some time. After spending such a long time in this peculiar little Outrealm, it seemed only fair to give their stay a proper sendoff, so to speak.]

It would feel better than just disappearing on them, even if they don't remember who we are. We can help to our fullest extent, knowing what we do now. Isn't that right?

[Lucina-- not knowing as well as the twins at the table-- didn't share quite the same opinion of time travel. This, at least, seemed fairly innocent, and her own endeavours completely necessary. Even if she'd had to leave home in the end... she'd contributed to the safety of those precious to her.

So she thought.]

[there's a moment's hesitation at that; mostly guilt tempered with an almost equally strong sense of protectiveness. It's not her fault, she wouldn't know. She didn't need to know.

But the smile he puts on as he nods gives away none of his thoughts. Things were moving normally here in this Outrealm and it wasn't really his responsibility to look after this world either. He's always had a hard time saying 'no' to the princess anyway]

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GROUNDHOG DAY!

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I can't believe this took as long as it did for us to finish this thread /lies down