Scene #7006: Triforce Ceremony

Owner	Pose
Link	HYRULE CASTLE DAYTIME The Triforce Ceremony has Hyrule Castle Town excited. Everyone is celebrating - banners are up, booze is had, basically a small festival. But the Elites aren't here for the city festivals. They're here for the ceremony itself, being held for nobles and foreign dignitaries. Hyrule Castle is huge. Surrounded by the stone back walls of the Castle Town, the castle towers up past it, with multiple entrances. Guards are on high-alert today, checking every main entrance, with at least one guard per. At the main drawbridge is a procession of guards. They are checking the invitations of everyone present, and sizing them up, before allowing them through without a word if they pass, or forcibly throwing them out if they don't. The main guest foyer of the Castle, where the ceremony is being held, is beautiful. Glass windows, fine chandeliers, large tables of food and wine, and knights all around, talking and guarding nobles. It's pleasant. The King stands among a group of bodyguards, in the back, talking with his wife. She's blonde and fair-skinned. He's tall, fair-skinned, with a long white beard and a strong jaw. Rhoam Daphnes Hyrule. Sir Theodor, the knight from the tax situation, is here as well. Dark hair, dark eyes, in his 30s, he's chatting with a group of noble ladies about his war efforts. He's not bragging, however. A man made of rock is sitting there chatting with soldiers. He's just very cheerful. A blonde older knight, in his 40s or 50s, with a beard and blue eyes, patrols the grounds. He's making sure nobody disrupts the noble family before the ceremony begins. Nobles are respecting this. They're mingling, eating fine foods, and trying to up their social status. Link arrives. He's dressed in fine Gerudo silks in dark colors, with bits of red thrown in. He's wearing a breastplate over it, and his sword is sheathed. He looks, honestly, Really Really Good. The nobles are shocked, especially that he got clothes that fine, and start murmuring about the implications.
Tetra	From behind the door at the back of the throne room comes the sound of running footsteps, echoing through the hallway. They stop just short of the door, and it opens slightly, enough for a pair of eyes to peek out. And then it closes, only to open again after a couple of seconds. Princess Zelda Rhoam Hyrule steps out into the room, long blonde hair looking very minorly disheveled, clad in her formal dress--white, with a long pink tunic over top. A circlet-crown rests on her forehead, inset with a red gem. giving the attendees a brief, demure smile, she approaches her parents, swiftly but formally. "I apologize for being late," she tells them quietly, reaching up to adjust her circlet and catching the stray locks. She surreptitiously smooths hem out, drawing her fingers through to make it look a bit more uniform. "The corset-lace broke, and re-stringing it took longer than expected." The girl looks out at the room again, surveying it properly. "... Is that the Hero over there, in the silks?" she asks, peering at him. "Goddess above, that's quite an ensemble he's wearing."
James Bond	James Bond wasn't invited. Officially, James Bond has never even been to this world. Officially, there is no agreement or understanding between the British government and the Gerudo people. There is, however, a grizzled mercenary type in town, of uncertain allegiance. Close-shaven blonde hair, scar over one eye, stubble, square features, flat nose. He wears a leather cuirass over light traveling clothes, the pants of which are tucked into studded leather riding boots. A dagger is sheathed at his hip, and his frame is somewhat concealed by a heavy cloak. He's spent the day milling about town, doing the odd job here, helping the citizens with preparations, as hero types do--but nothing that'd drag him out of town. He looks like one of those traveling adventurers, but really, he's been using his time in town to scout out the castle. Hours of surreptitious glances have given him a mental picture of guard patrols, and a valuable piece of intel: the locations of the servant entrances. He ran out of errands a while ago--but with the celebration so near, it's easy to blend into the crowd with a smile and a few fake bits of conversation. His carousing happens to take him close to the castle. Using his knowledge of the patrol routes, Bond waits until he can isolate a guard by themselves, hiding in plain sight as an aimless reveler. When needed, he creeps through back alleys for better vantage points. The moment he's able to do so discreetly, the secret agent attempts to knock one of them out, to secure a better disguise for himself. He needs to get into that castle.
Alruna Greengate	Other 'Elites' can speak for themselves. Alruna has been having a hell of a grand time exploring Hyrule Castle Town, and quickly found where the games are being held. Earlier, she was trying to aim bombchus at a target fifty paces away, and the fruits of her victory are a bagful of said bombchus and some /sherbert/ bombs, which she absolutely /loves/. She bites down into one as she crosses the drawbridge as part of Link's entourage, savouring the nigh-literal explosion of tart flavour in her mouth. The guard that checks her over and confiscates her prize has to call for her attention a few times before he gets it. Alruna is dressed in her pugilist's outfit - a mustard-yellow longcoat with an open shirt knotted between her breasts, matching gloves, loose white pants and surprisingly well-detailed boots - which has been freshly washed and cleaned. It looks reasonably presentable as some exotic foreigner's national dress. "Have fun." she leans over to murmur in Link's ear before immediately wandering towards the food and the fighters. Or... the soldiers and the cheery Goron, at least.
Staren	Staren isn't going to bust down the gates and force talking to the King and Queen. Even he can see that the optics on doing that NOW would be bad. He wears a white robe and mantle with gold trim, stylized to remind one of circuit traces. On the back is a symbol in green, a hollow gear with a medical cross inside, overlayed with negative space again in the shape of circuit traces. The clothes underneath it are upper-middle-class at least, the whole design designed by Concord PR to give a good impression. He's obviously not hylian. The ears, and the tail sticking out a slit in his robe, give that away immediately. For now, he just tries to get a sense of the situation without making too many waves.
Abigail Barton	Among those attending the ceremony today is a blonde woman in an shoulder-baring oddly-sleeved white gown that would probably look more suited to someone performing a fancy ceremony than someone just sticking around to watch it. Granted, she doesn't look like she'd be able to do much fancy footwork with the cane she has in her hands to help her move along, but it's already helped quite a bit with getting inside. It had taken a bit of work getting through security, but with careful observation, quiet maneuvering, and a bit of social chicanery, Abigail's found her way inside! It's not like she'd miss the opportunity to find out what these ceremonies are all about. Learning more about the region certainly doest hurt, and... Is that the Hero? That's most certainly the Hero, but his clothes... Surprisingly, they work. If he happens to look Abigail's way, he'd see the vaguely familiar woman giving him a brief nod of approval before she abruptly disappears into the crowd, fancy gown and all. She's still got her eyes on those coming and going, however, including the Princess as she makes a late appearance. This should be good. She watches the Princess closely, looking aside only briefly as she notices something moving oddly from the corner of the eye. Whatever it is, best not to draw attention to that possibly grizzled shape. No, she's going to watch this ceremony, grab a few snacks to nibble on, and definitely not cause a scene because surely nobody's going to say anything that might set her off. Definitely not.
Sarracenia	As guards check in nobles and other guests, a strong low-pitched buzzing starts to fill the air as a wooden airship some 120 feet long comes flying in overhead. It comes to a stop beside the drawbridge before the stern of the ship drops open. The wooden ramp connects with the bridge before a number of armored piranha plants form lines at its edges. Then, Princess Sarracenia makes her way down the ramp. Although she always dresses well, today her dress is extra extravagant. The vibrant red royal dress she is wearing is bordered and embroidered with gold, forming thin vine-like designs in the silk. And of course she wears a small golden crown like the other princess of her world. She greets most everyone with at least a curtsey, but Link gets a more personalized greeting in the form of a cheerful hello and quickly had an exuberant princess hanging on his arm. And naturally she makes sure she is loudly introduced as Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom.
Ganondorf Dragmire	The massive doors of the Castle blow open with all the force of a hurricane. "Surely you simply forgot to invite me." He is tall, taller than a normal man should be, broaching or perhaps even passing nine feet. He is muscular, as if the very concept of muscle was embedded into his genes. Red eyes full of equal parts nobility and menace stare over a beautiful white silk scarf. His nose, hawkish; his eyebrows as red and sharp as daggers. Gold earrings glitter against desert-tan dark skin. His shoulders are massive even through the nobleman's double-breatest black coat and a red sash wrapped around his chest in the style of old royalty. Elegant black pants are bound with a red sash. Scabbards dangle off it, swords massive enough to be greatswords for anyone shorter, jeweled at the ends with flaming red desert rubies to match his earrings. Black riding boots with gold adornment click across the stone floor. A beautiful desertwood harp is strapped to his back. A litle blue ball of light flits around his shoulder; on the other is resting a massive cask, which he holds in one arm as if it weighed nothing. There's some sort of silk laying upon it. He is Ganondorf Dragmire, the Great King of Evil, Warlock King of the Gerudo People. He has no need to dress as the Hylians do. He dresses better. Outside, bewildered guards stare at each other. It's clear from the looks on their faces they did not even see him pass. It's also clear from the stains on their trousers that they probably wouldn't've stopped him anyway. The Gerudo King walks through the crowd. "Surely it simply slipped your mind. The invitation, lost by that incompetent mailman, or forgotten by an ill-tempered merchant." "Worry not. I forgive you." The Great King of Evil strides straight up to the King, as if he owned the place, as if there were no guards at all. He looks down at Rhoam Daphnes Hyrule, stopping only long enough to plant the barrel down. A crocodile smile rests upon his face. He does not look at the Queen. Then, likely to the surprise of everyone, he bends the knee. He's probably still almost as tall as Rhoam. "Ganondorf Dragmire, the Great King of Evil." He stands. "And, fortunately, I have decided to overlook what is undoubtedly a grievous error on your part, and nothing more." That crocodile smile says everything about how he feels about that. He doesn't think it's an error at all.
Ganondorf Dragmire	He turns to look down at Zelda. And then he bows at the waist, one hand against his stomach. "Zelda Rhoam Hyrule. You are indeed as beautiful as the merchants claim. Hair like fields of wheat in autumn. Eyes like the sky of a clear day, full of purpose and certainty. I have no doubt behind them lurks the will and wisdom to rule the land fairly. Even we prisoners of the sands have heard tales of your fair visage, but nothing could compare to the genuine article. Indeed, a shining example of royalty." "My congratulations on your appointment." His red eyes flick over to Rhoam. "My condolences for its necessity." His eyes turn back to Zelda. "I have, of course, not come empty-handed." A massive, dark-skinned hand rests upon the cask. "The finest Gerudo wine, to celebrate your achievement. Fear not. It is not poisoned. I would never debase my people so casually simply to kill a few Hylians." He chuckles, darkly. He probably wouldn't, too. There's the sense that he'd rather do it bare-handed. Then he removes the silk and unravels it. It is a stunningly beautiful Gerudo silk dress. It ripples like waves of the ocean. It looks as soft as a cloud and as sturdy as steel. It is pink and white, stitched with gold fineries; a Triforce symbol rests at the breast. He holds it out to Zelda, his eyes locked upon hers. "A gift for you." "It would not do to give such fineries to only one of my fellow Triforce Holders. The Hero looks marvelous in it. I imagine you will outshine even the sun." And then he bows again and straightens, turning to the crowd. "Come, come. Let us toast." His bare hand smashes the keg open. The smell of sweet desert wine flows through the room. With a flick of his wrist there's a goblet in his hand. A shadow retracts into the ground. Probably a trick of the light. He dips the goblet into the wine and offers to the Princess. "The first drink is yours." Then, a second goblet. Another, slow, methodical dip. He raises it above his massive form. "Long may you reign, o flower of Hylia."
Link	As Zelda finally comes out, a little bit disheveled, Rhoam glances away from his conversation. "Zelda. Keep it together. This is the biggest moment of your life." It's well-meaning, but he's usually no-nosense about this sort of stuff. Queen Elisabeta, meanwhile, fusses over her daughter. "Ah, your hair- you got it. Remember, they're all watching. And...yes, he is. Where in the world did the hero get /Gerudo silk/? Perhaps the rumors are true, that he's in bed with the Great King of Evil..." She frowns, sharply, but Rhoam places a shoulder on her hand. "No. The Hero will always be at our side. I have faith in him." Alruna approaches the soldiers and Goron. The soldiers take a moment, before nodding to her outfit. "You were with the Hero, huh? You one of his warrior friends?" The Goron, meanwhile, grins and moves to shake hands. If she accepts, he has a /very/ strong grip. "Hey hey hey! Another foreigner! The food is lackluster around here, but this is a great party. You see what the Hero was wearing? Very dashing. Not that I'd know, I don't wear clothes." He laughs, deeply. Sir Theodor approaches Staren, breaking off from the noble ladies. "I forgot my wedding ring." He says, as a friendly aside, before getting more serious. "Are you going to behave today? I've already alerted the rest of the knights about what you're capable of, so please don't try and force your way to them. It'll be very bad for you." But...there's a soft pause. "But I can tell you're trying to do the right thing, in your heart, so let's get off to a better foot. I am Sir Theodor, Knight of Hyrule." Link is kinda nervous, especially when a literal princess is hanging from his arm. The nobles start mtutering some more, and some talk about, in Abigail's earshot, 'those silly foreigners, not understanding our culture, thinking they're worthy'. But before they can say worse, a special guest arrives. Ganondorf Dragmire. The guards and soldiers all immediately reach for their weapons. The king starts coughing, violently, as the queen moves to his side. But before anyone can strike, the king regains composure, steps forward, and glances at Ganondorf. Their eyes meet. The king's eyes drift to Ganondorf's hand, and then back to meeting his eyes. And then, with a gesture of the head, the guards and soldiers stand down. "King Ganondorf of the Gerudo. It is...surprising to see you here. Enjoy the festivities." And then, he turns back to leave, to get ready for his part of the ceremony, when the clock strikes time.
Link	The nameless mercenary, known otherwise as James Bond, slips into the alleyways after having gotten intel on guard patrols and castle entrances. He finds a guard who's finally alone, taking a whiz, when he moves to knock him out. It's loud, as the guard fights back, but... They don't have radios, and the festivities mute it. Once dressed as a guard, there's several entrances. He could try the front door, he could try a side entrance, or he could try scaling the castle walls and finding a window, depending on how flashy or smart he wants to be.
Staren	Staren nods at the question. "I'm not going to ruin the day for all these people. I moved too fast the other day, because I thought the Hero was starting a rebellion and had a reason to. I hope I can still work something out with whoever's in charge, but... today's not about me, or humanitarian aid, or any of that." He extends a hand. "I'm Staren Wiremu, of the Concord. I solve problems. Usually with force, but I do prefer to use knowledge. Making machines and magic and that sort of thing." "So, does this ceremony mean the Princess is the new monarch, or...? I really don't know about the details of that sort of thing."
James Bond	There is a momentary pause, a tension after Bond secures a better disguise. Has he been made...? No. The imposter guard makes his way into the castle through a side entrance. Dramatic is fun, but it's visible. There's a time for that. In this business, that time is often upon you before you realize it--and in this case, it's the King of Evil bringing the drama. There is one guard, just out of sight, who smiles at the Evil King's entrance, ever so slightly. And then he disappears into the castle. There will be time to talk with the King later. For right now, his mind is on Queen and country. His, to be exact. A satchel hidden beneath his uniform has a few tools of the trade. He makes his way towards the more important areas of the castle. His back is straight, eyes forward. But, as he walks, his fingers make subtle motions. They dart towards potted plants, portraits, coats of arms, suits of armor. They affix minute recording devices, spaced out to cover as large an area as possible with the limited amount he has. He studies the layout as he goes along--one never knows when one might need to come back. The hope here is that he can, over time, find out just where Hyrule is spending that tax money. Hm... Bond tries to locate the armory, 'patrolling' through the castle but keeping an eye out. Maybe that will have some useful information, if he can find it.
Tetra	Zelda glares at the queen. "Mother!" she grumbles, in a very 'don't-do-this' tone, before nodding. "I know. I'm just... nervous." She takes a deep breath, glancing over at one of the bodyguards' very polished chestplates to make sure her makeup is all right. "Okay..." She looks back out at the crowd, then to her parents in turn. "I suppose I should mi--" The doors crash open, and Ganondorf Dragmire makes his entrance. She's frozen in place. She'd heard the stories, heard him on the radio, even seen a photo--but none of that compares to the Gerudo's presence in person. For a moment, she fears for her life, and for her father as he coughs, but keeps her shoulders squared, face stoic. Appearances. Her hackles lower slightly as he bends the knee... And she smiles slightly as he compliments her, those bright blue eyes betraying only a little of the roiling emotion she's feeling right now. "I... thank you, King Ganondorf," she replies calmly, to his congratulations. Her eyes light up further as the silk unfurls into a beautiful dress, and she takes it from Ganondorf's hands with care and reverence. "Goddesses above... it is... absolutely magnificent." She's genuinely stunned at this gesture. "I take it with the utmost gratitude and honor." Carefully, the princess hands it to the nearest of the guards, quietly instructing them to very carefully take it to her chambers. With her hands empty, taken off-guard by the Gerudo King's charm, she pays the shadow little mind... and takes the goblet from him, raising it in kind. "Hear, hear," she announces, taking a small, delicate sip, rolling it around over her tongue to savor the taste before swallowing. "Exquisite."
Link	Sir Theodor is a bit busy glancing at Ganondorf and putting his hand off his sword to immediately respond to Staren, but after a bit, he shakes his hand, and nods. "No. She's not Queen, yet - but she gets to wield the Triforce of Wisdom. She's the second most powerful person in the kingdom...behind her father."
Ganondorf Dragmire	Rhoam has the extremely good sense to tell the guards to stand down. There is the powerful sense that Ganondorf could've killed every single one of them without moving. The crocodile smile never fades. "Should it be so surprising? I am the Warlock King of the Gerudo. We, too, are Hyrule's children. Are we not, Princess?" He's daring one of them to slip. Any one of these nobles. The Queen. Anyone. He's daring them to contradict him, daring them to spit at his feet. "Your praise is water in the desert, o Flower," Ganondorf says in that calm, smooth tone. He offers his arm, a perfect gentleman. It's bold. It's daring. It's something unthinkable. "Come. Why don't we speak to the other monarchs? Your Hero appears..." He turns his gaze on Link, and his smile widens. "Otherwise occupied. His eye appears to be on a far less radiant lady." "And I would hate to speak solely to them. Who knows what treachery the Gerudo King might try and weave between staunch allies of Hyrule? Worse, who knows what poor impression they would receive of me?" His tone is flippant, perhaps even entertained. But there is a dark humor underneath, a sense that he absolutely might do that sort of thing. "It would be my honor to escort you, and my pleasure if you might introduce me."
Abigail Barton	Of course they'd speak that way. Abigail's not surprised at the nobles' muttering, having seen that far too much during her earlier years. Now, though... Well, it's still not surprising, but she does make a note of these nobles in particular as she continues hobbling through the crowd, but not before brushing against them briefly to sneak some clean tissues into their pockets. Never know when they might need to blow their noses. And then an unmistakeable voice makes his presence known. So that's what the self-proclaimed King of Evil looks like. Tilting her glasses downwards briefly, Abigail studies his demeanor, his posture, his height, even the way he dresses and how he offers that wine to the Princess. Things are starting to click better than before. Of course the Hylians would be threatened. Chuckling softly, the lady in white hobbles once more all while observing the Princess' reaction to the sudden arrival of Ganondorf and his gifts. Things have certainly become more interesting all of a sudden. Despite her initial appearance, the Princess certainly seems to know a thing or two about behaving properly at such an event. Abigail can't observe her forever, though, as her attention is instead drawn to Link and Alruna when they're called out. She turns slowly, watching the former primarily while also keeping her eyes on the other nobles. This might be a good opportunity to see who needs tissues, too. Dreadful colds, this time of year.
Alruna Greengate	Alruna has a meaty (haha) slice of pie balanced in her hand as she approaches the most interesting group of people, in her estimation. "Yes!" She takes the Goron's hand and gives back as best she can, masking the 'hrk, oh gods he's going to break my hand' with a grin. Ignore the splint strapped to her forearm, she'll be fine. Hurf. "I don't know, I like the sweets they sell in the market." She takes a hearty bite of her pie. Meat is meat, especially when it comes from a royal table like this one. The expression on her face mirrors her realisation, eyes widening. Her puffed-out cheeks deflate as she hastily chews and then swallows. That is a damn good pie. Gulp. "Alruna Green-" She's cut off by the disturbance caused by the GREAT KING OF EVIL'S grandstanding entrance. The Highlander's eyebrow twitches, rising as she gets a better sense of how huge he is by seeing him closer to the other Hylians, who are not a short people by any means. "Is he going to..." Alruna headtilts. Suddenly the room's atmosphere seems thick enough to cut with a knife. "Just a minute." she murmurs to the Goron and company, strolling up to the Gerudo King's cask with a rather less ornate goblet she grabs from one of the tables along the way. She fearlessly approaches the Troll King, being an inconvenience by standing in his path as she dips her cup into the barrel and sweeps it up with a bit of a flourish herself to take a much heartier gulp of wine than Zelda did. Like the meat pie, it's unexpectedly /good/. Alruna isn't used to this kind of fine dining. "That's splendid." she says, staring wide-eyed at the cup, then up, way up, to regard Ganondorf. "That is an /ex/-cellent wine. Can I ask where you got it?"
Link	The guard moves in. He's the only one to smile, but no one notices. All eyes are on Ganondorf. He walks through the halls, and with the briefest of movements, plants something in potted plants and under tables. Something that the castle's keepers would never think to look for. But someone else is constantly on guard. As Bond moves, he finds the armory. There's two guards there, who can easily let him in with some brief talking, especially if he alerts that Ganondorf arrived. That's all the information they need. Once inside, he can see the weapons, armor, and shields. It's all amazing. High-quality stuff. The shields are basically aegises, stopping harm to any that may be a problem. Hylian material must be /really/ strong. But as Bond has a chance to admire it, the doors suddenly bar shut. Someone's onto him. A woman's voice speaks up. She's behind him, but he didn't hear her footsteps. "Give me one reason not to execute you. Timing is too coincidental." Her accent's vaguely Eastern, and if he turns to look at her, he'll find that she's a beautiful ninja woman with white hair and a single long braid. A long sword, a pair of daggers, and a strange tablet-like device are all at her side. Her hands don't hover over any of them - she prides herself on her draw speed. Right now, she wants intel.
Sarracenia	The visiting princess spares some withering sidelong glances for those nobles who mutter about her, then merely turns up her nose at them as if they really aren't good enough for her. Ganondorf's entrance is quite a spectacle, and Sarracenia is a bit awed as well. And he brought an amazing dress and some great wine? Is he related to Gilgamesh, she wonders? The dress makes Sarracenia frown just slightly. Now her own gift might seem a bit lackluster. She lets go of Link and approaches the Hyrule princess as well. She curtseys politely and smiles, even as she tries not to let an eyebrow twitch at Zelda's apparent similarities to Sarracenia's hated rival, Princess Peach. "Greetings, Princess Zelda Rhoam Hyrule, Crown Princess of the the Kingdom of Hyrule. I am Princess Sarracenia Aliciae Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom. I too have brought you a gift, in honor of your...um..." She hesitates a moment. "...forgive me, I am not sure what to call it. Ascension?" She smiles again and giggles a bit. "Regardless, here is your gift." A piranha plant footman who has been quietly following Sarracenia about hands her a large golden cube with a big ? mark on it. "I do hope you find it to your liking. My royal tailor made it at my request using the finest silks, golds, and gems that our kingdom could provide." she says, then pushes down on the top of the cube and it clicks before disappearing in a puff of smoke. It reveals a white dress not unlike her own, but with the Hylian crest embroided on the back in gold thread and the a Triforce in the front. The sleeves are short, and the shoulders are puffed out a bit. It also includeds elegant wings of material that include wrist cuffs of gold studded with rubies. "I do hope it fits well. Obtaining your measurements on such short notice was difficult. If it does require adjustment, just let me know and my personal tailor shall attend to it." She then looks to Ganondorf and offers a light curtsey. "It is good to see you again, Great King of Evil. I do hope your people's troubles have been lessened somewhat over your time in the Multiverse."
Link	Link sighs in relief once Sarracenia leaves and is out of earshot, and starts milling about. He passes by Staren, who he nods to, passes by Abigail, who he doesn't recognize, and then has no idea what to do except to try the food. He's clearly nervous. Anxious. Unsure of who to talk to or what to do. The burden's too strong, so he goes silent. Arriving with a group of courtiers, a tall red-finned sharkman arrives. The prince of the Zora, Sidon, comes in, and approaches Zelda first and foremost. "Ah! Your highness, it's a pleasure to meet you for the first time since you were a child. I apologize for being late - the elders held me up." One of the courtiers frowns at how blunt he is, but Sidon just grins. It's a very toothy, stylish grin. "Please present her our gift." One of the courtiers takes off something from her back, and presents it. It's a silver spear, aerodynamic and useful for combat. The Zora are known for their spears, after all. Ganondorf gets a hand gesture of sorts, a common Zoran salute for foreigners that he'd have seen before. "King Ganondorf of the Gerudo. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time! I am Sidon, prince of the Zora. I'm surprised you didn't bring any of your...sisters, correct?" He's trying, genuinely. And then his eyes dart over towards Link. "Wow! The hero looks rather dashing. This is going to be a fun party, I'm sure!" Sarracenia also gets a nod and a gesture. "Hello! You said your name was Princess Sarracenia? It's a pleasure."
Staren	GANONDORF DRAGMIRE, GREAT KING OF EVIL, crashes the party but is a perfect gentleman about it, albeit a gentleman /brimming/ with malice. Honestly Staren's not exactly surprised. Or worried. Everything he's seen of the man indicates that he is honest, and if the guy wanted to make the fight here he'd call the Hero, or perhaps the King and Queen, or perhaps the Guards, out. Because Ganondorf is the sort of man who would want everyone to see him beat them fair and square. Of course, he's also the sort of man who enjoys the fact that his mere presence here is probably scaring the piss out of some people, so it's not like there are no jollies to get. Staren continues his conversation with the tax collector, nodding. "Well. I do hope things get better, but you probably don't want to talk about this at this party, huh? You want to... um... do whatever it is people do at this sort of event. I've never really understood what that was. Like, for me, the point of socializing is talking to people, I guess? But I kinda feel like half the point, or maybe ninety percent of the point, of a party like this is being SEEN, showing everyone you're the kind of person important enough to be here." Perhaps that's why he's here," Staren nods in Ganondorf's direction, "to make sure noone forgets /he's/ important. ...Have the people here ever seen him before, come to think of it? Did he really meet with the King and Queen?"
James Bond	Bond chuckles, when he hears the assassin's voice. A glance towards one of the shields, and he can spot her reflection. She, too, can spot his, or at least the reflection of his disguise. He appears to be smiling. "Dinner, tomorrow night," he provides as his reason. His disguise isn't exactly a model, and his voice is quite gruff. Nevertheless, the line is uttered boldly and with confidence. That same confidence is in the mercenary's green eyes, reflected in the shield. His foot edges closer and closer to it. He slips the edge of his boot beneath the lid of the shield, talking to keep her eyes on the reflection of his face. "The south wall, at /sunset./" With that final word, Bond strikes. He lifts the heavy shield with his leg in a feat of immense strength. It sails over and behind him, at which point he turns and draws his knife, staring his opponent down. His smile says it all--'how's that for a reason?'
Tetra	Zelda nods. "Indeed. We are all children of the Goddesses' divine breath," she replies. As he offers his arm... well. Her mother won't like this, of course. Nor will the nobles. But... let them hate it. The Gerudo King is here on peaceful terms; he is a guest, a fellow ruler. And she'll treat him as such, unthinkable or not. Lead by example. And so, Zelda puts her hand on Ganondorf's arm, and inclines her head with a smile. "Of course, King Ganondorf. I believe I see one of the Goron Elders there..." The pair is intercepted by Princess Sarracenia before they arrive, though, and she pauses with smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Sarracenia!" The Hylian princess bows and curtseys. "We call this the Inheritance of Nayru's Wisdom... or simply the Inheritance Ceremony." As Sarracenia gestures to her servant, Zelda makes a gesture to a passing attendant, expecting something else to take to her chambers. The princess looks oddly at the block, but she smiles, brow raised, as she's presented with the dress. "It's beautiful," she replies, beaming, cradling the dress in her hands as she looks it over. Her fingers run over the embroidered Triforce momentarily. "I will wear it with honor and gratitude. On behalf of the kingdom of Hyrule, thank you. I hope the relationship between the kingdoms of Hyrule and Sundew will be a fruitful one." She hands the dress to her attendant, and is about to inquire about said kingdom when the Zora arrive. Unannounced, but not entirely unexpected, Zelda's eyes beam as at the sight of the Zora prince. "Prince Sidon! It has been far too long. Allow me to welcome you to the castle." She curtsies, internally grumbling at having to do so again. She takes the spear from Sidon with the same care as the dresses, but her interest is... more focused, more interested this time. She takes a few extra moments, examines it intricately. As though she knows exactly what to look at and look for. "This spear is exquisite..." is all she says. She opens her mouth to continue, but catches herself, reluctantly handing it to an attendant and giving the Zora a smile. "Thank you, Prince Sidon. I will cherish it... and pray that it only sees use in sport." She looks to her other companions. "It seems I don't need to introduce King Ganondorf... but this is Princess Sarracenia Aliciae Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom." Briefly, her eyes glance over toward Link. It was probably a pipe dream to think she could get a moment alone with him.
Link	Sir Theodor responds to Staren with a long sigh at his talking about social stuff. "Yes, that's roughly it. You use it to get ahead. As a knight, my job is both to be on guard and mingle with the nobles. Get them to like me, or at least, not dislike me." "Ganondorf isn't a known face, but he did meet with the King and Queen. He came in normally, politely, and left angrily. No one knows what happened except the royals themselves." And then, Sir Theodor pauses. "Did you ever file for humanitarian aid? It'd be useful for you." ---- Bond, the mercenary, can see his attacker. She's a ninja. She's absolutely a ninja. But she doesn't strike first. Instead, she grabs that tablet, and waits. As soon as he moves and draws his knife, she presses two buttons. The first flashes him in the face. It's a camera. He has a short amount of time to get in a counter-hit, because the second... If it works, he feels his body frozen, as a yellow aura flashes around him. For roughly eight seconds, he can't move. It's like time has stopped for him, except it's subjective. Impa moves forward, and instead of drawing a blade, she thinks about that flirting, which she mostly ignored. Her foot moves up, and her knee hits hard into his stomach. And then another kick. And then another. After the duration ends, the momentum all hits at once. Bond would go flying back into the wall of weapons, smashing him hard. But then Impa puts the tablet away, tsking. Is...there a cooldown to that?
Ganondorf Dragmire	Alruna gets in the way. Ganondorf's smile doesn't falter. "A Gerudo specialty, as anyone in this room could tell you. Wine, silk, and song. Those are the Gerudo way." "I would offer you a second drink, but I am afraid it is not mine to offer. It would be most impolite of me to offer what is no longer mine to give. I may indeed be the King of Thieves, but I am first and foremost I am Gerudo. To disrespect a lady at her own coronation is unthinkable. But I hope that you look upon this as favorably as possible. It is, after all, a very important day." Coming from him those words have an ominous undertone. But so far...? "To whom do I have the pleasure of addressing, that I might properly present you to the Princess of Hyrule?" He gives Sarracenia an odd look. "Princess. A pleasure as always." He tilts his head down slightly. There's a quirk of his eyebrow at her question. "I think it would be quite rude of me to speak of my peoples' troubles before their source. It might make some of the distinguished guests here uncomfortable, and we would hardly want that at such an important moment in Princess Zelda's life." The guilt-trip. Sidon arrives, and offers a gesture. Ganondorf returns it. Evidently, his knowledge of the cultures of Hyrule is a great deal more advanced than he lets on. "Prince Sidon of the Zora. The pleasure is mine." He straightens. "I'm afraid my sisters are needed for more immediate affairs. Would that I could I would be with them, but it would be remiss of me not to show for the Princess's Inheritance ceremony. Rude, even. And a King may be many things, but never rude." Ganondorf raises his hand at the Goron Elders. He again makes the proper signs of respect to the Gorons, a perfect gentleman in all but his eyes. Those eyes are...unsettling. "Yes. The Triforce of Wisdom." Ganondorf's eyes slide towards Zelda. "Isn't it strange? Power and Courage are twins, passed to destiny. None granted me Power but the goddesses of Hyrule." Oh yeah. That's a dig at every Nobleman here. "And none granted the Hero Courage but the same. But wisdom flows only from mortal hands, to mortal hands." "Poetic. The wisdom of ages, flowing from generation to generation, accumulating the vastness of time. Power is taken; Courage is recognized; Wisdom is earned."
Staren	Staren glances over at Zelda taking Ganondorf's arm and his eyebrows raise. Well. That's certainly making a statement. He looks back to Sir Theodore. "I did sort of ask you to bring that request here for me..." Staren sighs. "But given that you seem like a nice fellow and the circumstances of my demand, I'll forgive not delivering my message. I'll go through proper channels. As long as they're not overly onerous and my request is answered reasonably properly. So how do I /properly/ file?" Another sigh.
James Bond	Caught off-guard by Impa's device, Bond flies upwards into the ceiling. He strikes it, hard enough to be heard outside the armory. He lands. His hand still grips the dagger, and he elects to remain on the ground. He rolls onto his back, holding the weapon up in a defensive posture. He's grinning. A loud bang, and the dagger's blade shoots from the hilt on a steel cable. The weapon is aimed not for Impa, but for the door. It strikes the thick wood, and Bond is promptly tugged into the air. As he passes by Impa, Bond waits until the last minute, then strikes with -his- knee. Hit or miss, he doesn't stop there. He yanks the knife out of the door, sending the blade zipping its way back to the hilt. He focuses the momentum from that motion into a snapping side kick the moment his feet touch the ground.
Alruna Greengate	Alruna is being dwarfed amongst the local royalty here. She's struck by the oddity of how huge these kings and princes are. Even King Hyrule is a burly man who looked like he'd still be able to throw a decent punch, if Alruna's eyes weren't fooling her. Her eyes flick to Princess Zelda, who is going to have some growing to do if she's not going to develop chronic neck strain looking up at all these royals. She has an insouciant, beaming smile ready for the Great King of Evil when he addresses her. Meat pie in one hand, goblet in the other, she draws herself up to offer a graceful bow (rather than a curtsy) in proper Ishgardian style. /Some/ things from her childhood have stuck with her, at least. "Alruna Greengate." She very carefully holds the cup and pie slice so neither spills, because this is some fine food and she's not about to waste it on a sloppy gesture. "Free paladin. Swordmaster." she adds, just as Ganondorf appears to be about to say something. "Champion pugilist." A second passes. "And botanical expert." She is the very soul of innocent gaffe...ing. Gaffes. Gaffery. As she keeps interrupting Ganondorf's reply and delaying his movement to the next person in line. After she's done that bit of pleasantry and hopefully amused everyone who isn't Ganondorf and poor Zelda, she tries to get Link's attention, motioning with her eyes towards Princess Zelda.
Sarracenia	Princess Sarracenia smiles happily as Zelda takes her dress and seems to approve, but of course the Sundew princess does not like being outdone. And it is clear that Zelda likes the spear more. This causes Sarracenia to pout for a moment until Sidon addresses her. Her smile quickly returns and she tries not to stare or gawk or anything at the big sharkman. He asks her name and she nods quickly before being introduced more fully by Zelda. She offers a hand to the big Zora, likely expecting proper royal protocol. "Charmed~" she says, then giggles a bit. "My goodness, they do grow their royals rather large here! My parents are no taller than myself!" she says, and since Ganondorf has made off with Zelda and Link is being anti-social, the Sundew princess offers to accompany Sidon. "Prince Sidon, is it? Would you do me the honor of walking with me?" she asks. Finally she takes stock of the all the other guests, and offers a wave to Staren before smiling to Alruna. "It is good to see you again, Lady Alruna! It seems you are enjoying the festivities." she says with a slight smirk at the warrior's exhuberance. Ganondorf replies to Sarra, and she nods lightly in agreement. "Perhaps you are right. No need to dredge up such things in a time of celebration." she says as she follows after him and the other princess. "The Inheritance of Nayru's Wisdom. How regal! Having the adoration of your subjects merely handed to you must be quite an experience." she says to Zelda. There might be a smidge of jealousy there.
Link	"Go to the offices, file a form that says what you can provide and why, be /polite about it/, and you'll hopefully get pushed through in a few weeks instead of months. Especially if you have a knight on your side." Sir Theodor says to Staren. The kid isn't all bad, in his eyes. "Of course, of course, I understand, great king. Thank you, all of you, for your hospitality." Sidon says, still cheerful, as he turns back to Zelda. "You were so small back then...of course, I still look the same, so it's easier for you to recognize me than it is for me to recognize you. You still have an interest in our shiny weapons, huh?" Sidon looks to the spear. "I remember you staring at one that my guards had when I was last here." You can immediately tell what kind of guy he is - no filter, but intensely nice and cheerful. "My sister, Princess Mipha, still serves as the priestess of the Lord Jabu-Jabu, or else she would be here. She told me to give my regards, even though you've never met." And then Sarracenia asks him to walk with her. He's friendly enough, so... "Of course!" Meanwhile, the big Goron stumbles over. "Hey! Princess!" He talks like a Goron, honestly, they're not known for their nobility, being more of a clan. "It's nice to meet ya! We brought fine jewelry, made by the chief himself. He couldn't make it due to the food crisis, but..." The Goron reaches somewhere and grabs a beautiful pendant, made of various types of jewels that don't clash. "Congratulations on the ceremony!" Alruna gestures to Link to come over at this point. After a few moments of being weak, Link finally makes his way over. "Princess Zelda, I-" But he's too slow. The soldiers come over, telling her it's time, and lead her to her father, standing on an elevated platform. Rhoam speaks to the crowd. "By the power invested to me as the King of Hyrule, I present the power of the goddess Nayru to the crown princess of our great kingdom, Zelda Rhoam Hyrule. From this day forward, she will be known as the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom." The crowd gets excited, as he removes something off of a cushion presented to him. It's a golden triangle - everyone can feel the /sheer/ power radiating out of it. At this point, the guards up their game. Getting past them to steal it is near impossible. If and when Zelda accepts, simply touching the Triforce of Wisdom is enough. It recognizes her. It accepts her. It binds into her hand, creating a marking. And then the visions start, and they're disorienting.
Link	A grappling blade. Not a new weapon, but still one that surprises Impa for a random mercenary and spy to have. "Are you Yiga?" Is the only thing she says, but she's not believing it, as he goes for the door. The knee strike impacts, knocking her backwards... But the snapping side kick is blocked by a sword rapidly being drawn. The sheer momentum staggers Impa back, but not long enough to give Bond a good counter attack - she takes her sword and moves to slash into him, trying to leave a cut to identify him by. "No. You're Multiversal. Impressive."
Abigail Barton	More royalty. Great. As Abigail finishes making her rounds around the crowd to find better places to eavesdrop and stick her nose in where nobody notices it not belonging, she gets a better look at Sarracenia as she speaks with Ganondorf. The stranger in white furrows her brow for a moment, then cracks a slight smirk when the latter takes that shot at the Hylians. "Hardly indeed. If only they cared..." She murmurs just loud enough to be overheard, but quietly enough that her voice might be mistaken for someone else nearby as she slips away to blend in with another gaggle of gossipers. Sidon's arrival is much less expected. Granted, Abigail had been expecting people of the sea, but not quite so literally. Then again, considering the Goron, it shouldn't have been that surprising. Still.. He's a giant fishman. Shark. Whatever. His earnest demeanor catches her off guard, too, as Abigail looks behind him towards the courtiers to see if that entrance is some kind of strange joke. It's not. Another person to look into at some point. For now, though, she slows down to watch the ceremony taking place. Trying to steal that magical triangle would be too much right now. Too many eyes, not enough escape routes, but it's certainly a dangerous object. It might be fine if the Princess is getting it. Maybe. While everyone's (probably) busy gawking at that, though, she finally makes her way towards the King of Evil to murmur to him in passing. "Another time, great king. I'll come to you." She does't stop to turn towards him, just hobbling around the crowd with her cane to get a better look at what's going on like a good spectator.
Ganondorf Dragmire	Again, in completely stride, Ganondorf waits for Alruna to be done. He doesn't even speak until she's finished. There's nothing to interrupt. No hurry. Steel wrapped in silk and velvet. Yes, Zelda is moving on, and he is not, but he is clearly polite enough to wait despite the very obvious ruse. Which is a hell of a change from his presence on the radio. He's even smiling, a relatively genuine smile. He doesn't bear Alruna any particular malice. "A lady of many talents. That's wonderful. It is the Gerudo way to make sure that everyone cultivates all their talents, in the event that someone needs to be replaced after a tragedy." Ouch. A subtle little dig, again. But he's, again, unfallingly polite. His tone is even interested. "I am, myself, only a musician, though I know a passing bit about brewing and tailoring. I could hardly make my own clothes at the moment, but I am learning. Best not to be idle, don't you think?" He even sounds jovial. "But I prefer not to talk about myself at another's day of greatness. I find it arrogant and unbecoming to speak on my behalf regardless." The Goron comes over. Ganondorf offers a hand in traditional style. "Brother Darvin. A pleasure to see you once again. I have been meaning to return to Death Mountain, but I've been distracted of late. With the war." "Have you met miss Alruna Greengate? She appears to be an adventurer of some sort." Ganondorf claps Alruna on the shoulder. He's strong, but people-strong, not super-strong; she's stronger, so she might not even notice. "A noble profession. A step away from a thief." That actually doesn't sound like an insult, surprisingly. "I imagine you'll like her. She's a pugilist." "The Gorons have a long tradition of boxing and wrestling. You'll get on splendidly." With that, he turns around and goes to take a place in front of the dais, nodding at Abigail along the way. He is, after all, royalty. He has a right to a front-row seat. What are they going to do, stop him? He watches. His eyes are dispassionate. The Triforce of Wisdom holds nothing he desires. But the Triforce of Power upon his hand blazes furiously out of control, matching its mate. It throbs with physical power. It is something...tangible, just as tangible as Wisdom, but in a completely different manner. It is neither malevolent nor benevolent - it simply is, pulsing with an Existence, a Certainty.
Tetra	"My. That's quite a list of accomplishments, miss Greengate," Zelda compliments with a smile. "It is a pleasure." To Sarracenia, she chuckles quietly. "Yes... when I say I look up to my father, it is in a rather more literal sense than most Hylians, I think." She smirks, and the Goron's arrival interrupts whatever she might be about to add. She thanks him, both for the beautiful gift and for his well-wishes. "Please pass along my best regards to the Chief," she adds, before her interest is suddenly redirected at Link's arrival--and, suddenly, she is pulled away. Clearly annoyed at the timing, she curtsies to those around her. "It was a pleasure, all of you... we will speak later, Hero." She follows the soldiers, moving regally, head held high as she takes her place beside the king, quiet for the moment. She seems... slightly surprised at the sight of the Triforce of Wisdom as it's presented to her. She'd always imagined it being more elaborate, like some of the fancy illustrations and carvings. But here it is... a simple golden triangle. Unassuming in appearance, if not aura. Her heart races. Her eyes look out over the assembled guests, and with a brief smile, she looks back down and touches her fingers to the artifact. The Triforce of Wisdom flows into her, filling her with a momentary heat, and the marking appears on her hand. Three triangles laid out in a larger triangle, with the lower-left filled. Glowing. Zelda is, momentarily, left wide-eyed. She stares into the middle-distance, a look of subtle, growing discomfort on her face. And as suddenly as it came, it's gone. Princess Zelda's gaze snaps back to reality. She recoils slightly... and, after taking a breath, she holds the back of her right hand up to the crowd, showing the glowing mark. It glows brightly, pulsing slightly; she feels it as a strange throbbing, as it resonates with Ganondorf's Triforce of Power.
Staren	One ear perks up and rotates towards other conversations, one stays focused on sir Theodor. "Ugh, /weeks/? Isn't there anything I can do to expedite it? They'd better not be stalling..." The Triforce of Wisdom is unveiled, and it has his attention. He wouldn't try to STEAL it, but you seldom come face-to-face with something like this. And then Zelda is marked; he claps politely if the crowd does.
Tetra	The princess lowers her hand, and speaks. "Thank you all. I am... indescribably honored to see you all here. Particularly those from outside our kingdom, and those from the larger multiverse. I will use the wisdom of Nayru for the betterment of the entire realm, to the best of my ability." She curtsies once again... and promptly turns, moving to leave the room.
James Bond	Bond's leg falls quickly after his strike is blocked. Searching for an opening but finding none, he fights defensively. The blows are deflected with his dagger, but even with his strength, her reach is longer. As the tense blade dance crawls across the room, Bond briefly runs out of space, and that's all the opening she needs. Her blade does leave a mark. It tears his face open, in fact--but there's no blood. A gash runs along the length of a rubbery face. Another cut like that, and she can see who's beneath that mask. Bond knows this. His free hand procures the flask--the same one he'd attempted to use to embarrass Raphael. Impa is a trained professional and wears a mask besides, and likely won't succumb to the gas as easily as a normal person. Still, its shock white coloration makes for excellent cover. In that moment, Bond attempts his escape. Creeping through the gas-filled room, skin turning red, eyes watering, Bond draws at last the sword he'd stolen. That is, the sword he'd stolen from the guard whose uniform now serves as a disguise. But instead of using it on Impa, he thrusts it through the door. Aiming between the planks, Bond grunts and lifts the latch with both hands before barging through the door with his shoulders forward.
Ganondorf Dragmire	Ganondorf, freed from Alruna's clinging words, turns as the ceremony ends. And he goes to... ...Link. The big man stops in front of the man who will kill him. His eyes look down at the much, much shorter man. Then he claps Link on the shoulder. "The other night, I was pressed to the point of breaking. There is nothing I find so disgusting as men urging me to be kind to those who would show my sisters no quarter, nothing I find so loathesome as folk who suggest compromise without any will to present a better reason than 'because it is right.' It is not right, but never mind that.. Though those are indeed my feelings on the subject it is unbecoming of me to speak them so publically, to rage so openly. I am still a King. Pushed to the limit I may have been but I am still indeed a King, and though I apologize not for my feelings, I do for my poor showing. That you were caught in that moment is unfortunate. You are the man destined to kill me. I have no need to hate you for what destiny will force upon us both." His hand tightens on Link's shoulder. "And there is no one else in all the world who will understand the burden you bear as well as I." "Go and speak with her before the night is done." And then he just walks out.
Alruna Greengate	Alruna has made a fair nuisance of herself. Really, she just wants to go back to chatting with the Goron elder and maybe challenge the brawny rockman to a wrestling match, so Ganondorf is either lucky or actually paying attention when she mentions 'champion pugilist' to know to match her back up to him. Her eye-jerks to Link have to be cut off as Ganondorf 'introduces' the two of them and Alruna, despite all that knives-under-silken-words shite that's been going on, genuinely lights up at being informed the Gorons have strong wrestling and fisticuffs traditions. She does another bow to Zelda when the princess unexpectedly turns out to be paying attention but has to depart. Alruna blows out her cheeks as she and Ganondorf depart to take their places, and she steps into place at Darvin's side with a smile. Her pie's been waiting - she takes the opportunity to scarf the last of it while Zelda is being presented with the Triforce of Wisdom. She's in the process of emptying the last of her goblet when she feels a sharp pain spike in her head. She chokes, buckling forward onto her knees as the world fades to white. Red skies over a blasted landscape. The ruins of Hyrule Castle are silent, tattered rags dangling from the standards that used to stand proudly on the walls. Chilling laughter rings across the landscape, laden with an all-consuming malice that somehow is still not satisfied. She comes back to the waking world with a rattling breath, coughing and spluttering. On her knees, she takes a few deep breaths, holding up her hand to forestall concern. "-fine... I'm fine." Alruna says, covering her mouth as she coughs again, staring at her dropped goblet.
Sarracenia	It is difficult not to join in Sidon's joviality, and Sarra finds her spirits lifted a bit just by being around him. But, not much small talk can happen before the ceremony begins. And Sarracenia finds it...well, a bit lacking on ceremony. She is unsure if that is simply how the ceremony is or if King Rhoam is simply the direct sort of person. But, she -is- awed when Triforce and then both Triforce bearers start glowing like that. Sarracenia watches wide-eyed, expecting something to happen! But, nothing in particular seems to happen to Zelda or Ganondorf. But, Alruna has some sort of reaction! Sarracenia blinks in surprise, then makes her way over. Alruna holds up a hand, and Sarra comes to a stop. She still gives a concerned look, but does not proceed any further. And she isn't sure whether the ceremony is over or if she should be clapping, so...she simply returns to Sidon's side and waits for now. Although she is curious about Abigail, there doesn't seem to be a reason to engage her. Ganondorf walks out, barely giving Sarracenia time to wave goodbye.
Link	The guards are still outside, waiting for Impa to bring the dead or captured man. But the room is filled with gas, and Impa immediately leaps back, eyes widened. She doesn't speak, to avoid inhaling it, but she's actually a bit impressed. Bond takes a sword and shoves it through the door, lifting the latch and forcing it open, and smashes through it with his superhuman strength. He can keep running past the guards, even as the gas leaves the room and dissipates, and as the woozy Impa moves to try and pursue - briefly. Once Bond gets out of the hallway, he finds he's no longer being pursued, as long as he continues to escape. The reason? Impa will see him tomorrow, perhaps. ---- Brother Darvin explains that he did meet Alruna, and then heads off to talk to her. He talks a lot about Goron sumo wrestling while she eats, but when she doubles over, he seems concerned. "Hey, you alright?" Ganondorf, meanwhile, comes up on Link and speaks to him. An...apology. Link nods, and simply says "Thank you.", clearly unsure what else he could say. And then Ganondorf tells him to go speak to Zelda. Zelda's leaving. If she leaves that room, Link will never see her again tonight. So he nods, and as Ganondorf leaves, Link starts walking to Zelda's location. A fast stride. "Wait!" Some guests turn their heads at him, some muttering 'what is that fool doing now'. But Link approaches her, bows, and speaks. "I'm sorry about before, Princess Zelda. I am Link, the...Hero of Courage. I wanted to meet you, and wish you luck as a Triforce Bearer. We will certainly be working together. ...my apologies for the Gerudo silk, it was his idea."
Link	Sir Theodor responds to Staren. "Well, bureaucracy takes time, you know? Especially when you're foreign. I can do my best, but you're not going to get it immediately."
Abigail Barton	What a curious reaction to the Triforce. Abigail focuses her gaze firmly on Zelda as she makes contact with the magic triangle, that strange look in her eyes causing some discomfort even for the lady with the cane. It does appear that the Princess recovers soon enough, at least, and then she eventually offers some polite claps while glancing around to fit in with anyone else that would look vaguely uncertain about whether it's a good opportunity to clap at all. Nothing says confused nobility like awkward clapping. That exchange between the King and the Hero give her one last opportunity to really nail that look, too, glancing around again before noticing that Alruna's suddenly toppling over. Despite that hand gesture to wave people off, the lady with the cane approaches and stands nearby, ready to offer a hand should she actually change her mind. "Did you eat too much, ma'am? Or perhaps drink? That wine did look rather promising..."
Staren	"Thanks. Do you think if I brought some samples, it'd help? I guess all I have on me right now is this:" And Staren pulls a tablet out of his robe and hands it to the knight. It's got a multiversal radio and thus internet connection and can talk someone through using it; it'll last about 4-20 days depending on how intensively they use the battery. "It's not food, but maybe it shows the level of technology I'm working with? They can ask it about nanofabrication and stuff, too."
Tetra	Zelda stops as Link calls out to her, and turns to him. Now that he's close up, he can tell there are tears in her eyes. She shakes her head at him, and smiles slightly. "There's no need to apologize, Sir Link. I'd wanted to speak with you, as well, but King Ganondorf... and don't worry about the silk, either. It looks beautiful on you. Though you may not have endeared yourself to my mother... I can't say whether the nobles will think badly, given how often they wear it." She sighs. "I am Zelda... as you know, of course. I've heard bits and pieces, but... I know very little about you. Come, let's... get some wine. I believe I could use a drink..."
Alruna Greengate	Alruna gives Darvin a hearty thumbs-up and climbs to her feet, nodding to Sarracenia and Abigail. "I'm sorry." She looks mournfully at the goblet, even the last few drops she hadn't finished off. It really was a fine wine. "I have these, er," She rubs her temple. "Visions, sometimes. They happen when they want to." She briefly explains what she saw, gesturing animatedly as she does so. It wasn't a very informative vision, but she describes it regardless.
James Bond	She'll see him tomorrow. If he gains Impa's trust, he can work her for information. Bond slows down once he can no longer hear his pursuers. First thing's first, the mask. She might have him followed. Better to ditch it--she knows he's wearing a disguise, now, anyway. He tears it off after making several abrupt turns to throw off any silent pursuers. Later, a man in a tuxedo is seen arriving at the celebration. Short, dark, neatly combed hair overlooks a brow perfect for determined furrowing. Further down, two blue eyes regard the world, never without a certain coldness. His face is handsome, in an action hero kind of way, with a very slight cleft chin and a strong jawline. He takes so naturally to the environment that, surely, he must belong there. Pouring himself a goblet of Gerudo wine, he gives his name to those yet to make his acquaintance. "Bond," he says with a slight smile, and a knowing glance towards the castle. "James Bond."
Link	Darvin is glad that Alruna is fine, and nods to the visions. "That's cool!" He says, trying to reassure her. Meanwhile, Bond joins the party, unnoticed. Impa doesn't pierce his true form, looking for him. Link talks with Zelda. "Wine...okay. Let's go. ...uh, Ganondorf asked me to do this." He says, sheepishly. And then he realizes how that comes off, notices her tears, and he gets /very/ nervous. "Oh- not that I didn't want to, I just thought, you should know, since he's...I'm sorry." The last line sounds like he apologizes /often/. And as such, assuming they head off, the night goes on. It's a joyous time. A calm before the storm.