You think I sat on my ass twiddling my thumbs these last few months?
It's not every day I go toe-to-toe with someone who can match my strength, even when I'm still holding some of it back. I don't just sit around and wait for you to surprise me. How do you think I learned?
[Zelda. His captain. His inspiration.]
You don't seem like a stupid man, Ganondorf. So why? Why not do something good with that kind of power?
[Alright, so Know Thy Enemy. He tilts his head slightly. Point Granted.
But he's quiet a moment before speaking. Sounding...thoughtful?]
Would you consider my words if I brought up the Molduga of my home, or would you simply think me mocking you?...for they, no doubt, consider it 'good' to use their power to survive, to eat.
I will allow you to guess at their favorite prey.
[Beat]
Now, tell me; do you think their prey considers such 'good'?
For what it's worth, I don't think you're mocking me at all. I think I caught your attention for all the wrong reasons on your ship half a year ago. You don't go through life looking like me and not be able to tell when you catch someone's eye.
And I also think you're dodging my question because that would require justifying your actions and existence in a world you don't have a claim over. We're flotsam here as far as this world is concerned. We can either drift or do something about it. I just got tired of drifting.
[Darin might be reckless and he might act the fool, but he's spent a lifetime observing people. Studying on his own when he could because he wasn't allowed the luxury of a proper school.]
But to answer your question, no. It's not 'good.' But skewing the question to be about 'survival' over 'shared humanity' is just stacking the deck in favor of your perspective. So let's try this one:
Is this about survival for you? Or ambition? Because I've seen both of those arguments and neither of them are really all that compelling.
[Flashes of his brother's face leap to mind. Maybe Darin's so calm about this because he's replayed the last conversation he ever had with Dromas a million times in his mind. All the things he wished he'd had the ability to say rather than gawp at the fact that his twin was even alive in the first place.]
I admit I aspire to be more. [He sounds almost...bored of the conversation now? And utterly shameless as he makes that admission.] To grow stronger than I am now - I would not allow myself to grow stagnant, particularly in a world that offers so many opportunities.
[He makes a thoughtful noise, though, clearly giving weight to Darin's question beyond what he's said]
...I wish the world to be as strong as I am, Master Altway. In truth, it sickens me to see the weak banding together to stand against those greater to them. And it sickens me just as much to see a hand offered down try and raise them up to a place they have not earned.
I would rather watch it all burn than allow such pitiful a realm to exist.
So, it's cruelty. "Earn a place with your own strength or don't exist at all?"
[Darin can't say he's surprised. All of that gloom and malice that Ganondorf was throwing around all of those months ago...the scar that Darin still has over his chest and how he can still feel vestiges of that corruption latching onto something inside of him? That isn't borne from nothing. Even during his fight with Nappa, Darin could feel that malevolence rising up inside of him.]
So, where do I fall here? Are you disappointed that I want to lift people up? Or confused that I held my own against you when I hadn't even drawn my weapon?
[Darin's mouth curls up into a smirk and it's audible. He managed to catch Ganondorf off guard with the mention of the Seven Heroines. The man isn't a wall of stoicism. A small victory, but a victory all the same.]
Don't tell me you're going to try and convince me to go back on my oath! I'd hate to disappoint the public after all that.
[Darin's no stranger to threats. How many insults and promises of physical harm have been slung at him? How many people have called him 'monster' and swore they'd have him in chains by virtue of his existence? How many mercenaries and soldiers attempted to put him in his place because he so arrogantly refused to bend the knee?]
[But Ganondorf's threat isn't one to shrug off. There's weight to it. A promise writ in blood with the cadence of discord. He's heard those words before with that same cadence. His brother sought to do the same. To isolate Darin from his happy life. To steal away everything he loved and held dear so that he might fall and aid him in fulfilling the prophecy. To destroy his world.]
[Darin is no stranger to this. In fact, Ganondorf's pledge strikes a chord in his heart that he hates.]
[But after all of that he's survived. He's pushed on. He's stood up and continued moving forward and now, given the events of his time in prison, he finally has a path open to him. Not with the Paladins or the Corsairs, but something that is his. His own way forward. And if that path gets blocked, he'll just make a new one. Because the beauty of Darin's path is that it twists and turns. It dips and spirals and lifts and drops. It's as tempestuous as it is limitless. And with the eyes of a certain princess at his back, he has no inclination of backing down.]
Then I'll say it again special for you, Ganondorf. Drop the 'Master' nonsense because I'm not one for titles.
My name is Darin Altway and like a shooting star, I will carry the hopes of this world on my back. I'll split the darkness of the limitless night and point the way towards the dawn. I will forge a better tomorrow with my two hands for everyone.
Knock me down, and I'll get back up. Over and over again. As many times as it takes. Break my body. Twist my mind. Throw everything you can at me because if the world can't break me? There's nothing a King can do.
Hah! Says the guy who’s been keeping his nine foot tall head down since our last bout? But I see what you’re trying to do. Goad me into a death battle with the odds in your favor. You had me outmatched last time and you’re counting on my pride to work in your favor.
[Darin casually begins to pace about, one hand on his hip.]
I won’t lie. Last time we fought I thought about pouring every ounce of my power into taking you down. I thought if I could at least take you with me, it’d be worth it. Not the most satisfying end, but there’s worse ways to go.
But things change. I’ve changed. I’ve sworn more than a single vow and my life isn’t just mine alone to throw away anymore.
So, if you want me, you know where to find me. And I’ll do whatever it takes to beat you in a way that satisfies me. I suggest you bring your A game, Your Majesty.
[His tone is mocking. He has no idea if he has what it takes to beat Ganondorf but he won’t run away. He won’t back down. He’s gotten stronger. He’s not alone. He has a life worth living and a home worth protecting. He has a place in someone else’s story, in her legend.]
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no subject
It's not every day I go toe-to-toe with someone who can match my strength, even when I'm still holding some of it back. I don't just sit around and wait for you to surprise me. How do you think I learned?
[Zelda. His captain. His inspiration.]
You don't seem like a stupid man, Ganondorf. So why? Why not do something good with that kind of power?
no subject
But he's quiet a moment before speaking. Sounding...thoughtful?]
Would you consider my words if I brought up the Molduga of my home, or would you simply think me mocking you?...for they, no doubt, consider it 'good' to use their power to survive, to eat.
I will allow you to guess at their favorite prey.
[Beat]
Now, tell me; do you think their prey considers such 'good'?
[The point is, quite honestly, a simple one.
Good is subjective.]
no subject
And I also think you're dodging my question because that would require justifying your actions and existence in a world you don't have a claim over. We're flotsam here as far as this world is concerned. We can either drift or do something about it. I just got tired of drifting.
[Darin might be reckless and he might act the fool, but he's spent a lifetime observing people. Studying on his own when he could because he wasn't allowed the luxury of a proper school.]
But to answer your question, no. It's not 'good.' But skewing the question to be about 'survival' over 'shared humanity' is just stacking the deck in favor of your perspective. So let's try this one:
Is this about survival for you? Or ambition? Because I've seen both of those arguments and neither of them are really all that compelling.
[Flashes of his brother's face leap to mind. Maybe Darin's so calm about this because he's replayed the last conversation he ever had with Dromas a million times in his mind. All the things he wished he'd had the ability to say rather than gawp at the fact that his twin was even alive in the first place.]
no subject
[He makes a thoughtful noise, though, clearly giving weight to Darin's question beyond what he's said]
...I wish the world to be as strong as I am, Master Altway. In truth, it sickens me to see the weak banding together to stand against those greater to them. And it sickens me just as much to see a hand offered down try and raise them up to a place they have not earned.
I would rather watch it all burn than allow such pitiful a realm to exist.
And that includes a realm not my own.
no subject
[Darin can't say he's surprised. All of that gloom and malice that Ganondorf was throwing around all of those months ago...the scar that Darin still has over his chest and how he can still feel vestiges of that corruption latching onto something inside of him? That isn't borne from nothing. Even during his fight with Nappa, Darin could feel that malevolence rising up inside of him.]
So, where do I fall here? Are you disappointed that I want to lift people up? Or confused that I held my own against you when I hadn't even drawn my weapon?
[Darin's mouth curls up into a smirk and it's audible. He managed to catch Ganondorf off guard with the mention of the Seven Heroines. The man isn't a wall of stoicism. A small victory, but a victory all the same.]
Don't tell me you're going to try and convince me to go back on my oath! I'd hate to disappoint the public after all that.
1/2
I'm disappointed, but I won't try and shatter your oath.
2/2
1/2
[But Ganondorf's threat isn't one to shrug off. There's weight to it. A promise writ in blood with the cadence of discord. He's heard those words before with that same cadence. His brother sought to do the same. To isolate Darin from his happy life. To steal away everything he loved and held dear so that he might fall and aid him in fulfilling the prophecy. To destroy his world.]
[Darin is no stranger to this. In fact, Ganondorf's pledge strikes a chord in his heart that he hates.]
2/2
[But after all of that he's survived. He's pushed on. He's stood up and continued moving forward and now, given the events of his time in prison, he finally has a path open to him. Not with the Paladins or the Corsairs, but something that is his. His own way forward. And if that path gets blocked, he'll just make a new one. Because the beauty of Darin's path is that it twists and turns. It dips and spirals and lifts and drops. It's as tempestuous as it is limitless. And with the eyes of a certain princess at his back, he has no inclination of backing down.]
Then I'll say it again special for you, Ganondorf. Drop the 'Master' nonsense because I'm not one for titles.
My name is Darin Altway and like a shooting star, I will carry the hopes of this world on my back. I'll split the darkness of the limitless night and point the way towards the dawn. I will forge a better tomorrow with my two hands for everyone.
Knock me down, and I'll get back up. Over and over again. As many times as it takes. Break my body. Twist my mind. Throw everything you can at me because if the world can't break me? There's nothing a King can do.
You can't even make me kneel.
no subject
I trust then that next time we battle, you will not run away?
no subject
[Darin casually begins to pace about, one hand on his hip.]
I won’t lie. Last time we fought I thought about pouring every ounce of my power into taking you down. I thought if I could at least take you with me, it’d be worth it. Not the most satisfying end, but there’s worse ways to go.
But things change. I’ve changed. I’ve sworn more than a single vow and my life isn’t just mine alone to throw away anymore.
So, if you want me, you know where to find me. And I’ll do whatever it takes to beat you in a way that satisfies me. I suggest you bring your A game, Your Majesty.
[His tone is mocking. He has no idea if he has what it takes to beat Ganondorf but he won’t run away. He won’t back down. He’s gotten stronger. He’s not alone. He has a life worth living and a home worth protecting. He has a place in someone else’s story, in her legend.]
[His tale won’t end at the hands of a tyrant.]