I haven't been working on my au for a while now but I might get back to it in the near future. However I do want to talk about some stuff. I just won't explain to a full extent WHY certain things happen.
So firstly, I did end up deciding that my au would be called the Lavender AU because of a couple reasons:
- Lavender is known as a plant w/calming effects and so it contradicts a lot of what actually happens in my AU. A lot of what happens in the au is meant to be contradictory. There are tales of heroes and royals in the land of Lorule, most being stereotypical and erriely hopeful. However, as time passes these stories turn to those of warnings and terrible horror. Lorule dies and stress causes more fear to be instilled onto people. So, the title is mostly ironic.
- In my au, Lavender is a plant that ONLY grows in Hyrule. Zelda ends up showing it to both Hilda and Ravio and they end up liking the plant a lot. So much so, that Ravio even ends up being gifted some lavender ear cuffs from Hilda that he wears long after albw (note: this is not a good thing - remember... it's meant to be ironic of something).
- This is the most important point: Hilda and Ravio do end up almost trapped in an arranged marriage. When I say almost, I mean it. It doesn't happen but a major part of why Hilda and Ravio end up so codependent is because, despite the marriage never happening, the proximity the both share both willingly and unwillingly has forced them to stick together. It's almost like they just stick together to keep up an image (like a classic fairytale with a princess and a knight), even if no one is watching them. Aspects connecting to that of a lavender marriage in order to protect themselves, socially and mentally.
(note: this marriage was initially forced on them as a last resort for mercy from Lolia. The royals ARE superstitious to an extent.)
- Lavender is purple. Lorule is purple.
There is a main focus on Hilda and Ravio, where everything that happens AFTER albw is a direct causation of what happened BEFORE albw.
Hilda and Ravio love each other so so much, but not in a romantic way at all. It's a strange thing they have with one another.
They played pretend with one another from a young age, playing around with the idea of fairytales and hopeful happy endings.
They each had a role they had to play, whether they knew consciously or not. They did play along until, slowly but surely, they could no longer do it.
One lashed out and the other ran away.
And despite how much time passed, and despite the birth of their new triforce that was granted in a final act of mercy, they still cannot see each other eye to eye for they are no longer just a princess and her knight/servant.
I do want to put a lot of emphasis on the horror potential for Lorule as well. I keep thinking that twisting their "legends" would help solidify that.
I also think about how simple things such as the masked cultists in Thieves Town or Ravio's tendency to wear his bunny mask, could connect with one another or connect to something much deeper when thinking about Lorule’s gods. Maybe something about Ravio being a tad bit more skeptical of the religion surrounding Lolia or other gods, but still partaking in it (a reason why I draw him with praying hands a lot of the time - a habit of sorts).
And speaking of gods, I also want some horror for Lolia. I have sketched an idea for her to be this starving and redead looking figure that hopelessly watches her people die. She is not goddess-like in the way most people in Lorule wish she was, but perhaps more of an abstract thing. I have been looking for fear and hunger for more inspiration as a lot of the old gods in that game are more of abstract ideas than actual gods.
Finally, Zelda does play a major role in everything. She is friends with both Hilda and Ravio for a major part of their youth, speaking between worlds via their study room mirrors. Zelda is most of the time the "sanest" one in the room, being more of a helpful anchor to the lorule duo. However as time progresses this merciful attitude of hers gets misinterpreted by Hilda and Ravio.
Hilda slowly begins to see her almost as god-like (my god my universe). Of course at this time Hilda’s mental state is already down the drain so it progressively gets worse as time goes one. Hilda sees Zelda as everything she wishes she could be, she needs her in her life to guide her because without her, what is she to do? She wants to show her that, with her help, she can be just like her. She wants her to be proud of her. She wants her to SEE her.
Ravio is much more reasonable and just really likes and respects Zelda, but at his lowest, he becomes more scared of her. The idea of another world beyond their own, what could that possibly mean? Why are there counterparts? Why are they being blessed with seeing Zelda and Hyrule through a mirror? Are they going to die soon? Why is this girl, so golden and bright, so nice to them?
Lorule is full of horror and an incoming death, so any kindness is beautiful but at the same time frightening.
If no one gives them the straight path to walk, then both will stray away and do what they think needs to be done.
tldr; Lorule duo is mentally ill and codependent and might try to kill each other maybe one time but accidents happen yknow
