[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/221005/7d7c778891f3387ab231a2bbd26f2d1e.png[/img]
[@Lugubrious] Nadia Fortune | [@Zoey Boey] Jesse Faden | [@Majora's End] Omori, The Knight | [@Yankee] Therion | [@TruthHurts22] Ichiban Kasuga

[H3]Home of Tears[/h3]

[b]Word Count:[/b] 1,148
[b]Level 3 Ganondorf:[/b] 34/30
[b]Exp:[/b] 2
[b]NEW EXP Balance---[/b] 36/30[/center]

For the unlucky staff that operated on Ganondorf, they were in for a surprise when the King of Evil jolted awake just as they were about begin treatment. The Gerudo proved... most difficult. The last thing he remembered was all the fighting down in the Womb, and he was still very much in that combat mode mindset. This combined with his size and raw strength made it almost impossible for him to be restrained, since he would just easily break out of anything they tried to strap him down with.

[color=Red]"I am the great Lord Ganondorf!"[/color] he roared at what he could only assume were his would-be "captors". He even took a swing at one poor fellow which sent him crashing into the nearby wall and collapsing in a heap, [color=Red]"You will never hold me cap... capt... you will never..."[/color] his voice trailed off and his vision blurred. At some point someone managed to sneak up on him with a needle prick, and the King of Evil collapsed into unconsciousness yet again. This time under medical sedation.

The next time he awoke, he found himself in a room that didn't look like any dungeon he'd ever seen. It was too clean, and the bed was too cushioned. But even more importantly than all that, Ganondorf felt... normal? No coughs, no rashes from plague, no... anything. He'd been... healed? Nearby he saw his two swords leaning against the wall. That settled it. If he still had possession of his weapons then he couldn't possibly be a prisoner. So with that in mind, it led him to his next question, [color=Red]"What is this place, exactly?"[/color] he pushed himself out of the bed and grabbed the weapons.

Eventually, the groggy Gerudo had wandered into a lobby of some kind where he spotted Nadia looking like she'd seen a castle full of ghosts, [color=Red]"Are we... still in the Womb?"[/color] he asked, still not aware that the group had long since left that wretched place. He listened to whatever explanations he was offered and almost appeared to sigh in relief for a brief moment. It took a lot for something to get to him, but [i]that[/i] place certainly was beginning to after spending what felt like an eternity down there.

One-by-one, the Seekers eventually were gathered in the lobby of this Sanitarium place. Apparently this was where the group was directed to after leaving the Basement. Speaking of directions, there appeared a man Ganondorf did not recognize. He was unconscious before and so this was his first time seeing the man in the red suit. Despite appearances, the man looked like a reasonably capable fighter, so what was someone like that doing in a place like this? Oh well, it mattered not. Eventually Ganondorf realized his hair had become untied during his treatment and exasperatedly tied it back again.

[color=Red]"Blast it all!"[/color] the Gerudo muttered, [color=Red]"If we are indeed in a town of some kind, then the first thing I'm going to do is find someone who can do something about this."[/color] he said in reference to his hair. In a matter of moments he was exiting the Sanitarium and out into the Home of Tears itself.

[hr]
Finding his away around wasn't too difficult. After crossing a fountain courtyard, Ganondorf found himself among a marketplace. Perfect, if there was anyone who could cut hair in this town than this was surely where they could be found. After looking around for a few minutes, a sign reading "Killer Cuts" caught the Gerudo's eye. Walking up to the door, the King of Evil pushed it open and entered the establishment.

[color=005B96][b]"Ah, welcome!"[/b][/color] said [url=http://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ritualofthenight/images/3/34/Todd_but_Smaller.png/revision/latest?cb=20190627194047]the proprietor[/url] as soon as he heard the door open. He was certainly a... ghoulish looking fellow, with his red eyes and gaunt face with green skin. And yet, despite that he was also quite dapper and well dressed - wearing dark blue formal attire with a matching wide-brimmed hat, [color=005B96][b]"Are you perchance interested in a styling, Milord? I offer only the finest styles here at Todd's Killer Cuts."[/b][/color] he then brandished his literal scissor-hands in a sort of flourish.

[color=Red]"...Indeed."[/color] grunted Ganondorf, eyeing the scissor-hands with no small amount of suspicion.

The barber - Todd - picked up on this and immediately offered a more reassuring tone, [color=005B96][b]"Ah, I assure there's nothing to be alarmed of, Milord. These hands were the unfortunate result of a cursed pair of scissors. Only way to break the curse is if I use them to create six-hundred and sixty-six hairstyles. So naturally your patronage would be of great help to me in reaching that goal."[/b][/color]

Ganondorf merely shrugged, [color=Red]"Then, by all means."[/color] he said before he was then directed to sit in the barber chair.

[color=005B96][b]"Wonderful, wonderful!"[/b][/color] exclaimed Todd, [color=005B96][b]"Now, what style can I create for you today, Milord?"[/b][/color]

[color=Red]"Just something short and presentable will do, I grow tired of this lion's mane on my head."[/color] said the King of Evil, then he added, [color=Red]"A soldier's cut will be fine. And trim this beard a bit while you're at it. I'd rather not walk about town looking like a wild animal."[/color]

[color=005B96][b]"Very well then..."[/b][/color] said the barber who then flourished his scissors around Ganondorf's head. In fact the style of the Gerudo's hair and beard were changed almost instantly as if by magic rather than by physical cutting, [color=005B96][b]"How does that fair, Milord? I trust it is to your liking?"[/b][/color]

Ganondorf turned his head side to side as he examined himself in the mirror, [color=Red]"Hmm, yes, much better."[/color] he stood up from the chair and turned to face the barber, [color=Red]"Now what fee do I owe you for your services?"[/color]

[color=005B96][b]"Why, none at all, Milord!"[/b][/color] replied Todd. This elicited a raised eyebrow from Ganondorf, [color=005B96][b]"As I explained earlier, my curse can only be lifted by creating enough hairstyles. Simply allowing me some amount of progress toward that goal is payment enough. Good day to you, Milord. Do consider enlisting my services again should you fancy another style, won't you?"[/b][/color]

[color=Red]"Hmm, perhaps."[/color] and with that, Ganondorf exited the store and went back out into the marketplace.

Unfortunately, he was currently lacking in funds. But still... perhaps a bit of exploration wouldn't hurt. If nothing else, Ganondorf would do well to get the lay of the land. And fortunately, this place seemed infinitely more pleasant and preferable to that dreadful Basement.